This work provides the complete story of chloroplast biogenesis, from proplastid to gerontoplast with mature chloroplast as the transient. Development of mature chloroplast from proplastid and subsequent transformation of the mature organelle to gerontoplast during senescence are critically reviewed in the background of regulatory events associated with them. The book is organized into five chapters including a chapter assigned to introduction, which briefly deals with the basic concept of plastid transformations during leaf development and senescence. Chapter 2 highlights pigment synthesis, assembly and regulation of various thylakoid complexes and Rubisco. Chapter 3 has been designed to provide an up to date account of structure and function of a mature chloroplast that covers molecular and crystallographic structures of photosynthetic complexes and their functions. The chapter also describes chloroplast metabolism, enzymology and regulation of CO2 fixation. Response of chloroplast to environmental stress is also included in this chapter. Formation of gerontoplast during leaf senescence, its regulation and molecular biology are described in chapter 4.This chapter makes the book very different from others published on chloroplast biogenesis. The book concludes by establishing a linkage between all the chapters and integrates the data on organelle development and senescence.
