Chloroplast protrusions in leaves of Ranunculus glacialisL. respond significantly to different ambient conditions, but are not related to temperature stress

The occurrence of chloroplast protrusions (CPs) in leaves of Ranunculus glacialisL. in response to different environmental conditions was assessed. CPs occur highly dynamically. They do not contain thylakoids and their physiological function is still largely unknown. Controlled in situ sampling showed that CP formation follows a pronounced diurnal rhythm. Between 2 and 27 degrees C the relative proportion of chloroplasts with CPs (rCP) showed a significant positive correlation to leaf temperature (TL; 0.793, P<0.01), while irradiation intensity had a minor effect on rCP. In situ shading and controlled laboratory experiments confirmed the significant influence of TL. Under moderate irradiation intensity, an increase of TL up to 25 degrees C significantly promoted CP formation, while a further increase to 37 degrees C led to a decrease. Furthermore, rCP values were lower in darkness and under high irradiation intensity. Gas treatment at 2000ppm CO2/2% O-2 led to a significant decrease of rCP, suggesting a possible involvement of photorespiration in CP formation. Our findings demonstrate that in R.glacialis, CPs are neither a rare phenomenon nor a result of heat or light stress; on the contrary, they seem to be most abundant under moderate temperature and non-stress irradiation conditions. Chloroplast protrusions (CPs) are stroma-filled areas not containing any thylakoids. They are formed dynamically and the physiological function is still largely unknown. We conducted field and laboratory experiments on the nival plant species Ranunculus glacialisL. and demonstrate that CP formation follows a pronounced diurnal rhythm. CPs are neither a result of heat or light stress but seem to be most abundant under moderate temperature and non-stress irradiation conditions.