THE DEVELOPMENT OF CHLOROPLASTS IN ROOT MERISTEMATIC TISSUE OF SECALE CEREALE L. SEEDLINGS

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Abstract
SUMMARY: Proplastids of the meristematic region of roots of rye, Secale cereale, seedlings can be induced to develop into chloroplasts after a lengthy period of continuous exposure to light. The transformation involves the formation of prolamellar bodies which eventually become the source of membrane material for the organization of granal and intergranal thylakoids. The process is also accompanied by a two‐step increase in the number of plastidial ribosomes which coincides with the extension of the intraplastidial membrane system and by a progressive accumulation of photosynthetic pigments and development of Hill reaction activity.Overall mature chloroplasts of root meristematic tissue compare well both structurally and functionally with those from the leaves of the same plant.