Glyceryl Tricaprate in Thylakoids of Stevia rebaudiana and Its Physiological Role

Resumo

The short-day plant stevia (Stevia rebaudiana) was earlier reported to produce electron-dense thylakoids in the chloroplasts under long-day conditions. In the present work, such thylakoids were analyzed by transmission electron microscopy and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. It was found that they contain glyceryl tricaprate, which belongs to triacylglycerols. A hypothesis is advanced that glyceryl tricaprate acts as a photoprotector for short-day plants against redundant solar radiation.