Ultrastructure of the sporophyte foot-gametophyte vaginula complex in Timmiella barbuloides (Brid.) Moenk

The sporophyte foot of the moss Timmiella barbuloides consists of an unistratose epidermis of transfer cells, a parenchymatous cortex, and a small central strand consisting only of hydroids. The parenchymatous tissue of the vaginula develops one layer of transfer cells opposite the foot, whose lower...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Planta 1982-01, Vol.154 (5), p.414-425
Main Authors: Ligrone, R., Gambardella, R., de Lucia Sposito, M.L.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
cell junctions
Cell walls
Epidermal cells
Epidermis
Gametophytes
Labyrinths
Placenta
Plant cells
Plastids
Sporophytes
Starches
Timmiella barbuloides
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:The sporophyte foot of the moss Timmiella barbuloides consists of an unistratose epidermis of transfer cells, a parenchymatous cortex, and a small central strand consisting only of hydroids. The parenchymatous tissue of the vaginula develops one layer of transfer cells opposite the foot, whose lower extremity extends into the gametophyte stem's central strand. From the bottom to the top of the foot the ultrastructure of the sporophyte transfer cells shows some gradual changes that appear related to a functional specialization of these cells. According to a centripetal gradient, the quantity of plastid starch progressively lessens in both vaginula parenchyma and foot cortex. The observed morphological patterns suggest that in the foot-vaginula complex nutrients are translocated radially up to the sporophyte central strand.
ISSN:0032-0935
1432-2048
DOI:10.1007/BF01267808