Fine structure of the etioplasts in two mutants of maize.

The fine structure of the etioplast has been studied in two maize mutants, japonica-2 and lycopenic. In the japonica-2 maize, mutation does not affect the etioplasts directly, but through the cellular internal environment. This last conditions structural changes of the etioplasts, which, in the potentially green tissues, are however able to develop to chloroplasts. In the lycopenic mutant, mutation directly affects the etioplasts, which either have a normal structure and upon illumination develop to young chloroplasts and then to chromoplasts, or contain lycopene crystalloids already in the dark and develop to chromoplasts without passing through a chloroplast stage. © 1976 Academic Press, Inc.