Proteinaceous crystals in cells of virus infected plants

Crystal-containing organelles in cells of virus infected plants lying at chloroplasts and mitochondria are identical with single membrane-bound microbodies containing crystals of catalase described in healthy plants. Massive complex inclusions caused by turnip mosaic virus very frequently contain the same microbodies with crystal inclusions; that phenomenon may be related to some pathophysiological changes of virus infected plants. Comparable proteinaceous crystals, but not lying within microbodies limited by a membrane, may also be found in cytoplasm of infected cells. These crystals are sometimes surrounded by a substance resembling the microbody matrix. Disintegrated cytoplasm of virus infected cells may also contain the same crystals lying free in “empty spaces”. Cytopathological effects responsible for this phenomenon and possible artifacts as well are discussed.