Ultrastructural Changes in Germinating Dicranum scoparium: A Moss Containing Protein Storage Material

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Abstract
In addition to lipids, the spores of D. scoparium L. Hedw. contain granular storage material, which is stained by mercuric bromphenol blue and digested by pepsin treatment. When these proteins are degraded during germination, they are vacuole-bound and similar to the protein bodies of higher plants. There are few starch grains in the chloroplasts of ungerminated spores. The amount of starch increases at the beginning of germination and decreases during later stages. These changes are accompanied by changes in the chlorophyll and protein content of the sporelings.