====== Stromules ======

>A stromule is a microscopic structure found in plant cells. Stromules (stroma-filled tubules) are highly dynamic structures extending from the surface of all plastid types, including proplastids, chloroplasts, etioplasts, leucoplasts, amyloplasts, and chromoplasts." \\ \\ Source : [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stromule|Wikipedia]]

They are ubiquitous, being found extending from the surface of [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plastid|plastids ]] //in all multicellular plants// - however :

>__"[...] their function is still largely a matter of conjecture.__ They may increase the plastid surface area to facilitate movement of materials into or out of plastids, be involved in sensing the cellular environment, and/or have signaling functions due to close apposition of stromules and nuclei, plasma membrane and other cell organelles. Stromule formation appears unrelated to chloroplast division or to light-intensity-dependent chloroplast movement." \\ \\ Source : [[https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-94-007-5724-0_9|Plastid Development in Leaves during Growth and Senescence pp 169-186]]

Currently, there are at least ten hypotheses regarding their possible functions, and several more suggesting how they might form. See :  [[https://academic.oup.com/plphys/article/176/1/128/6117012|Plant Physiology,]]{{:oa_padlock_grn.png?16}}Volume 176, Issue 1, January 2018, Pages 128–137

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Also see : [[content:life_sciences:botany:endophytes]]