The distribution of ribosomes in the vegetative and floral apices of Adonis aestivalis
The distribution of ribosomes and changes in the ratio of polyribosomes to monoribosomes were determined for the vegetative, transitional, and floral apices of Adonis aestivalis L., a day-neutral plant. Ribosomal counts were made with a Quantimet 720 image-analyzing computer. Two methods in the analysis of the shoot apex were compared: (1) ribosomal distribution based upon the average number of ribosomes per unit volume of cytoplasm (concentration) and (2) distribution based upon total number of ribosomes per cell.It was found that the concentration of ribosomes was greater in the peripheral zone than in the central zone. Increase occurred in the latter zone during transition to flowering. On a per cell basis, however, the number of ribosomes was the greatest in the rib meristem, followed by the central and peripheral zones. During transition to flowering, the number of ribosomes per cell increased only in the peripheral zone.It is suggested that consideration of ribosomal data on a per cell basis may be helpful in achieving a better understanding of the interzonal relationships within the shoot apex.