Plastome Mutants of Higher Plants

Abstract

This chapter provides an overview of higher plant plastome mutants and their application in molecular biology, cytoplasmic genetics and biotechnology. Starting from an outline on plastid inheritance, the sources of mutants, methods of their maintenance and molecular approaches to identify the underlying genetic changes are presented. Subsequently, the molecularly characterized plastome mutants and their impact on our current knowledge about plastids are summarized. Recent developments in genomics will likely overcome technical limitations connected with the elucidation of mutant loci in plastome mutants. The great potential of plastid mutants in future research, for example in studying plastid gene regulation, as well as suitable model plants and available genetic resources are discussed.