Dark-chilling induces substantial structural changes and modifies galactolipid and carotenoid composition during chloroplast biogenesis in cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) cotyledons
Chilling stress affects early stages of cucumber chloroplast biogenesis. This stress causes prolamellar body recrystallization and grana thylakoid elongation. In low temperature PLB structure changes from “closed type” to “open” type. Chilling increases level of DGDG and lutein and thus decreases membrane fluidity. This affects membrane structure and causes chloroplast sensitivity to chilling.