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ON THE CYTOLOGY OF ANTHERIDIUM FORMATION IN THE FERN SPECIES ONOCLEA SENSIBILIS. I. CYTOLOGY OF CELL PLATE AND CELL WALL FORMATION
Author(s) -
Leung Cecilia,
Näf Ulrich
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.tb06282.x
Subject(s) - antheridium , funnel , fern , biology , dome (geology) , anatomy , botany , gametophyte , paleontology , pollen , chemistry , organic chemistry
In the four‐celled antheridium of the fern species Onoclea sensibilis a central spermatogenous cell is enveloped by a jacket of three cells. Starting from the base, the jacket comprises the cup‐shaped basal cell, the ring cell—both of which encircle the spermatogenous cell—and the cap cell. The lower wall of the spermatogenous cell has the configuration of a funnel; its upper wall is dome shaped. The choice of whole antheridia for study instead of sectioned ones has, for the first time, made it possible to study the formation of the uniquely shaped antheridial cell plates step by step. The cell plate antecedent of the funnel wall has the configuration of a funnel. This conclusion conflicts with Davie's contention that this cell wall is oriented transversely at first and acquires funnel‐shape secondarily. The present studies further show that the funnel cell plate forms from base to rim. This finding contrasts with a report that in another fern species this cell plate begins to form on one side of the initial and then proceeds circularly around it. The base of the funnel cell plate attaches to the basal wall of the antheridium initial in a separate event. The genesis of the dome‐shaped upper wall of the spermatogenous cell is described for the first time.