Galactolipase activity and free fatty acid levels in chloroplasts

Abstract

Both galactolipase activity and free fatty acid content are much higher in chloroplasts of chilling‐sensitive plants (bean, broad bean, tomato and maize) than in those of chilling‐resistant ones (spinach, pea and lettuce). However, monogalactosyldiacylglycerol and digalactosyldiacylglycerol content in chloroplasts of these two groups of plants relates neither to free fatty acid levels nor galactolipase activity. It seems that chloroplast galactolipase activity and free fatty acid level may be useful biochemical parameters discriminating chilling‐sensitive from chilling‐resistant plants.