ISSN:
1432-2145
Keywords:
Selaginella
;
Megaspore
;
Exospore
;
Ultrastructure
;
Tapetal cells
;
Plasmodesmata
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Biology
Notes:
Summary Structures have been found in the locular space between the tapetal cells and megaspores in Selaginella argentea and S. kraussiana that enter the megaspore wall and extend to the plasma membrane of the megaspore cytoplasm. We have called these structures “wicks”. Unless special fixation procedures are used wicks are either very poorly preserved or not apparent. Wicks appear to be routes for the transport of materials from the tapetum to developing megaspores. The entry of the wicks into the megaspore wall and their passage throughout the wall implies that the megaspore wall of Selaginella is a three-dimensional mesh-work of inter-connecting spaces. Wicks have several macromolecular-sized subunits, and the results of our histochemical reactions indicated the presence of glycoprotein and/or mucopolysaccharide. X-ray microanalysis of the S. convoluta exospore showed that silicon is present in rod-shaped structures between units of the exospore in mature megaspores. Because of the size and form of the structures between the exospore units we consider that they are remnants of wicks stabilized by silicon.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00227654
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