Formation of the photosynthetic apparatus in plastids during greening of potato microtubers

The process of amyloplast-to-chloroplast and leucoplast-to-chloroplast transformation in potato microtubers (Solanum tuberosum L. var. Istra) exposed to light was studied. After 12 h of light exposure, the characteristic chlorophyll fluorescence was already detectable using a fluorescence microscope. At the same time, HPLC analyses showed the presence of chlorophylls a and b. Simultaneously, the assembly of the LHCII protein complex was detected by Western blot analysis. The formation of the LHCII protein and the appearance of chlorophylls and carotenoids confirmed the development of the LHCII pigmented multiprotein complexes during light-driven differentiation of the chloroplasts. Electron microscope analyses showed the development of thylakoids in amyloplasts and leucoplasts leading to the formation of chloroplasts.