The gene for cytochrome oxidase subunit II (coxII) in carrot is encoded by a unique locus in the mitochondrial genome. In contrast to the coxII genes in the numerous other plant species investigated to date, the coding region is interrupted by two group II introns. The carrot 5' intron is the homologue of the single intervening sequence found in several monocot and dicot coxII genes. Sequences similar to the 3' intron of the carrot coxII gene have not been reported previously and are not detectable by hybridization with Oenothera mtDNA. Northern hybridizations indicate complex precursor transcript patterns with mRNA molecules up to 10 kb length. The excised intron sequences appear to be stably maintained in the mRNA pool. Amino acid sequence comparisons suggest that the carrot coxII mRNA needs to be edited by numerous C to U transitions.