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Scanning electron microscopy of the callose wall and intermeiocyte connections in angiosperms

1974; Canadian Science Publishing; Volume: 52; Issue: 6 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1139/b74-156

1480-3305

Ernest D. P. Whelan, G. H. Haggis, Eugene Ford,

Plant Pathogens and Resistance

Scanning electron microscope studies of anthers of the dicotyledons Helianthus annuus, Solanum tuberosum, and Lupinus polyphyllus, and the monocotyledons Iris pseudo-acoris and a Lilium hybrid revealed discontinuities or holes in the meiocyte callose wall and continuity of the plasma membranes of adjacent meiocytes. The holes in the callose wall generally were confined to areas where neighboring meiocytes were in contact. The holes varied in size within locations and between taxa. The largest holes, about 2.4 μm diameter, were found in Lupinus. Fixation in standard acid–alcohol fixatives resulted in marked plasmolysis and loss of cytoplasmic detail, but the nucleolus and bivalents were readily apparent. Fixation in buffered glutaraldehyde, with or without postfixation in O S U4, preserved the cytoplasmic organelles and plasmolysis was minimal, but bivalents could not be distinguished. All fixatives preserved the nuclear membrane so that the nuclear region was clearly delimited from the cytoplasm.