The Chlorophyll Biosynthesis and Degradation and Chloroplast Structure in Tomato Yellow Mutant

Abstract

Yellow mutant is an important material for studying chlorophyll biosynthesis, degradation and the genetics and development of chloroplasts. The chlorophyll biosynthesis and degradation pathways of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) mutant ym (Yellow mutant) and control ZS4 (Zhongshu 4) were studied. Photosynthetic parameters and chlorophyll fluorescence parameters of the variety ym and ZS4 were measured. The results showed that ym was more sensitive than the variety ZS4, while the variety ym has more tolerant to low light. The chloroplasts in ym exhibited onset of degradation compared with ZS4 under the transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The lack of chlorophyll-protecting material or the chloroplast grana degradation causes the leaf fade.