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- Title
The leafy stems of <em>Sphagnum</em> (Bryophyta) contain highly differentiated polarized cells with axial arrays of endoplasmic microtubules.
- Authors
Ligrone, Roberto; Duckett, Jeffrey G.
- Abstract
Contrary to the long-held belief that, internal to the cortical sterome, the central region of <em> Sphagnum</em> stems comprises unspecialized parenchyma, the present light- and electron-microscope study has revealed that these cells in fact have a highly specialized cytoplasmic organization. Their key features are: (<em>a</em>) the absence of large central vacuoles; (<em>b</em>) a spindle-shaped nucleus positioned internally ; (<em>c</em>) a prominent axial system of endoplasmic microtubules associated with the nucleus, mitochondria, pleomorphic vacuoles, and membrane-bounded tubules and vesicles; (<em>d</em>) a distinct cytoplasmic polarization, with the cellular region near the capitulum being richer in organelles than the basal region; and (<em>e</em>) a high frequency of plasmodesmata in the cross walls with an enlarged median region containing no discernible desmotubule. Such a distinctive combination of cytological features has been hitherto only described for putative food-conducting cells in bryoid mosses. The results introduce a major new character common to <em>Sphagnum</em> and bryoid mosses and strongly suggest that this cytological organization underlines cellular specialization in symplasmic transport.
- Subjects
PEAT mosses; BRYOPHYTES; MICROTUBULES; ORGANELLES; ELECTRON microscopes; MITOCHONDRIA
- Publication
New Phytologist, 1998, Vol 140, Issue 3, p567
- ISSN
0028-646X
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1046/j.1469-8137.1998.00298.x