There isn't a single "father" of the chloroplast in the way there is a father for a human child. Chloroplast inheritance is primarily maternal, meaning offspring typically inherit chloroplasts from their mother. However, research shows that paternal chloroplast transmission can occur under certain conditions, such as cold temperatures (as evidenced by research from the Max Planck Institute for Molecular Plant Physiology).
Understanding Chloroplast Inheritance
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Typically Maternal: In most plants, chloroplasts are inherited solely from the mother plant. This is the prevailing view. This is supported by many studies, including research on cucumber chloroplast and mitochondrial genome inheritance which showed mostly maternal inheritance with rare exceptions. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7843999/
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Paternal Inheritance Exceptions: While uncommon, evidence shows that paternal chloroplasts can be transmitted to offspring. Studies have shown this in some species under specific environmental conditions like cold temperatures. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/01/230124101541.htm This challenges the long-held belief of exclusively maternal inheritance. For instance, research on Actinidia hybrids utilized techniques like SSCP analysis to study chloroplast inheritance patterns. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1016847823137381
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Conifers: A Notable Exception: A significant exception to the typical maternal inheritance is found in many conifer species, where paternal chloroplast inheritance is the norm. https://passel2.unl.edu/view/lesson/cbaef9e938ed/6 The pollen's chloroplasts and mitochondria aren't degraded and contribute to the offspring's genetic makeup.
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Julius von Sachs' Contribution: Julius von Sachs' crucial work significantly advanced our understanding of chloroplast involvement in photosynthesis. While not the "father" in terms of inheritance, his discovery laid a foundation for understanding chloroplast function.
In summary, while the typical inheritance pattern is maternal, exceptions exist demonstrating that, under specific conditions or in certain species, the "father" plant can contribute chloroplasts to the offspring. Therefore, a simplistic answer like a single individual isn't accurate.
