A survey of chloroplast ultrastructure in the Dinophyceae

Abstract

The structure of the chloroplasts in forty-two dinoflagellate species is described. There are five main types: (a) more or less parallel lamellae, (b) the same but with occasional peripheral lamellae, (c) girdle lamellae and internal pyrenoid, (d) fusion of thylakoids to envelope and internal pyrenoid and (e) more or less radially arranged lamellae. In types (c) and (d) the chloroplasts contain fucoxanthin in place of the normal carotenoid, peridinin. Type (c) in Glenodinium foliaceum and Peridinium balticum shows many similarities with chloroplasts of the Chrysophyta.