Submicroscopic Structure and Development of the Chloroplasts of Funaria hygrometrica and Bryum sp

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The fully developed chloroplasts of F. hygrometrica and Bryum sp. are ellipsoidal and bounded by a well-defined dense membrane. Within the chloroplasts the lamellae or discs are arranged in stacks or grana. The grana of F. hygrometrica are more dense than those of Bryum. Osmiophilic globules occur in the chloroplasts of both species. The development of the chloroplasts in both species takes place in 5 stages: (1) proplastids, vesicles and osmiophilic globules first appear; (2) lamellae are formed locally by fusion of vesicles; (3) the number of lamellae increases with the size of the chloroplasts, and they form closed double membranes or discs; (4) the discs are arranged into stacks, indicating grana formation; (5) osmiophilic granules are present at all stages and increase in size with the development of the chloroplast.