Abstract:The study revealed the detection of stereotypic hallmarks of the apeptosis during cell death induced by cytochrome c in carrot ( Daucus carota L. ) and tobacco ( Nicotiana tabacum L. ) protoplasts. The progressive delineation of fragmented DNA into distinct bodies, coincident with the appearance of DNA ladders, was also observed during death of the cytochrome c-treated carrot and tobacco protoplasts. TUNEL analysis of cells revealed DNA fragmentation localized in the dying cells as well as the additional formation of apoptotic-like bodies. These results suggest that cytochrome c can induce programmed cell death (PCD) in plant cells; also indicate that PCD in plants involves some of the characteristics of animal apeptosis among which DNA cleavage is a potential indicator of PCD in plants.