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Fine structural observations of the cotyledons in germinating seeds ofPelargonium XHortorum Bailey: With normal and mutant plastids

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Summary

The fine structural changes in cotyledon cells of germinatingPelargonium seeds are studied on the first to fifth day of seedling emergence. Initially there is a rapid change in the cell fine structure, marked most conspicuously by the progressive liberation of the lipid and protein food reserves and the formation of an extensive thylakoid system within the plastids, but gradually the cells start to senesce. The subcellular changes in mutant cells are similar except that the plastids lack the usual thylakoid system and develop only deranged prolamellar bodies. They may store starch and they possess plastoglobuli, but seem not to contain plastid ribosomes. In rare mixed cells normal and mutant plastids remain quite distinct.

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  1. Paramjit K. Khera

    Present address: Department of Genetics, University College of Swansea, Singleton Park, Swansea, Wales

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  1. Department of Genetics, University College of Swansea, Singleton Park, Swansea, Wales

    R. A. E. Tilney-Bassett

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  1. Paramjit K. Khera
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Khera, P.K., Tilney-Bassett, R.A.E. Fine structural observations of the cotyledons in germinating seeds ofPelargonium XHortorum Bailey: With normal and mutant plastids. Protoplasma 88, 201–214 (1976). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01283246

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