葉綠素缺失和淡綠色突變種屬非致死性,其具共同性有葉綠素濃度的大幅減低、葉綠a/b比值較高、類囊膜上的蛋白質組成較少、不完全的類囊膜發育、輪狀囊膜重疊現象的出現機率較高、葉綠素-蛋白質復合物的大量減少及對溫度、光強度及光週期具敏感性。上述缺失導致兩類突變種對光線及溫度的敏感性。依其對環境改變的反應而言,葉綠素缺失突變種可區分為兩大類:一為單純調整葉綠素含量的突變種;另一為同時改變葉綠素含量及a/b比值的突變種。
Chlorophyll-deficient and virescent mutants are nonlethal and similar in great reduction in chlorophyll concentration, higher chlorophyll a/b ratio, low protein composition on thylakoid membrane, immature development of thylakoid membrane, high frequency of whorl lammellae, great change of chlorophyll-protein complexes and sensitivity to temperature sensitivity of these two mutants may be the results of the above deficiencies. According to the response to environmental alterations, chlorophyll-deficient mutants can be placed into two groups: one just adjusts the chlorophyll content, whereas the other simultaneously adjust both chlorophyll content and a/b ratio.