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HISTOCHEMISTRY OF THE PRIMARY THICKENING MERISTEM IN THE VEGETATIVE STEM OF ALLIUM CEPA L.
Author(s) -
DeMason Darleen A.
Publication year - 1979
Publication title -
american journal of botany
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.218
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1537-2197
pISSN - 0002-9122
DOI - 10.1002/j.1537-2197.1979.tb06234.x
Subject(s) - meristem , biology , thickening , allium , staining , botany , anatomy , shoot , genetics , chemistry , polymer science
Stems of Allium cepa L., 1, 2, 5, and 6 months old respond similarly when stained for protein and RNA. The primary thickening meristem (PTM) stains more intensely than surrounding stem tissues. The acropetal region of the PTM is a broadly staining band which narrows basipetally to the level of the initiation of shoot‐borne roots in the stem and disappears more basipetally. These staining patterns are consistent with the hypothesis that the PTM functions in stem thickening and root production, and also indicate that the meristem functions before histological evidence of the cambial‐like zone exists in the onion stem. Histochemical staining may be an accurate method of locating the PTM.