Studies on seeds: v. Microbodies, glyoxysomes, and ricinosomes of castor bean endosperm.

Glyoxysomes, a form of microbody, are present in castor bean endosperm during the first 8 days of seed germination. They have a "typical" microbody form and are shown histochemically to contain catalase. The catalase label is distributed throughout the microbody and is not an exclusive feature of the crystalline or amorphous core.Castor bean endosperm contain a second cytosome, only slightly larger than the glyoxysomes, which is bound by a rough-surfaced membrane and which does not label for catalase. We have not observed these cytosomes in other tissues, suggesting that they may have a specific cellular function characteristic of castor bean endosperm.