Photosynthetic apparatus
- The chloroplast in green plants constitutes the photosynthetic apparatus.
- In higher plants, the chloroplast is discoid in shape, 4-6 µ in length and 1-2µ thick.
- The chloroplast is bounded by two unit membranes of approximately 50°A thickness and consists of lipids and proteins.
- The thickness of the two membranes including the space enclosed by them is approximately 300°A (1 Angstrom: 0.1 cm).
- Internally, the chloroplast is filled with a hydrophilic matrix called as stroma embedded with grana.
- Each grana consists of 5-25 disk shaped grana lamellae (thylakoids) placed one above the other like the stack of coins.
- Each grana lamella of thylakoid encloses a space called loculus and the thylakoid membrane consists of alternating layer of lipids and proteins.
- Some of the grana lamella of thylakoids of grana are connected with thylakoids of other grana by somewhat thinner stroma lamella or fret membrane.
- Chlorophyll and other photosynthetic pigments are confined to grana.
- The chlorophylls are the site of photochemical reactions.
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Last modified: Tuesday, 26 June 2012, 4:35 AM