Selective scattering spectra as an approach to internal structure of granal and agranal chloroplasts

Selective scattering spectra of granal and agranal chloroplasts were measured in the red spectral region and compared with calculations based on the Mie theory. The spectra were influenced considerably by the intactness and ultrastructural pattern of the chloroplasts. It was demonstrated that the spectra consist of two components: one attributable to grana and the other, to single lamellae. The dependence of the selective scattering spectra on the ultrastructural characteristics offers a convenient method for monitoring the quality of chloroplast preparations by a procedure much faster than electron microscopy.