CHROMOPLASTS OF TOMATO FRUITS. II. THE RED TOMATO

Abstract

Plastid transformation at the ultrastructural level in a normal red tomato ‘Pearson’ is reported. During ripening, lycopene aggregates on thylakoid membranes. These thylakoids lengthen and sometimes are associated in concentrically layered groups forming very elongated or irregular crystalloids. Thylakoid plexes often occur. Comparisons of the mature chromoplasts of the normal red tomato with those of other pigment lines indicate that differences in carotenoids markedly affect ultrastructure.