scholarly journals Nectary structure in Symphyglossum sanguineum (Rchb.f. ) Schltr. (Orchidaceae)

2012 ◽  
Vol 59 (1) ◽  
pp. 7-16 ◽  
Author(s):  
Małgorzata Stpiczyńska ◽  
Kevin L. Davies

Ornithophily occurs in a great number of orchid species but despite this, researchers have largely neglected to investigate their nectaries. The aim of this study is to describe the nectary structure of <i>Symphyglossum sanguineum</i>, a species presumed to be pollinated by hummingbirds. The nectary is located at the free margins of auricles, which form a channel for the passage of nectar. The nectary, which consists of a single-layered epidermis and 2-3 layers of subepidermal cells, is supplied by collateral, vascular bundles. The nectary cells of <i>S. sanguineum</i>, like those of other ornithophilous orchids, have thick cellulose cell walls. A remarkable feature of these nectary cells is the dissolution of the middle lamella and the subsequent separation of epidermal cells. It is possible that this latter process facilitates the flow of the nectar to the nectary surface. The cuticle covering the nectary epidermis has micro-channels, but unlike the other species of ornithophilous orchids studied to date, it neither becomes disrupted nor detached from the epidermal cells. Abundant mitochondria, lipid droplets and smooth endoplasmic reticulum (SER) with an osmiophilic material are present in the cytoplasm of nectary cells. Some plastids with few lamellae contain numerous vesicles and osmiophillic globules whereas others accumulate starch. SER lamellae are often closely associated with plastids and the contents of the former organelles closely resemble osmiophillic globules. Secretory vesicles are common, especially near the outer, tangential wall indicating that granulocrine secretion possibly occurs in <i>S. sanguineum</i>.


2012 ◽  
Vol 65 (2) ◽  
pp. 11-22 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sebastian Antoń ◽  
Magdalena Kamińska ◽  
Małgorzata Stpiczyńska

The structure of the osmophores in <i>Stanhopea graveolens</i> and <i>Cycnoches chlorochilon</i> was studied by means of light microscopy (LM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The scent glands are located in the basal part of the labellum. The surface of the osmophores is wrinkled or rugose, which increases the area of fragrance emission. On the surface of the epidermis, remnants of secretion are noticeable in <i>S. graveolens</i>, but these are absent in <i>C. chlorochilon</i>. The osmophore tissue is composed of secretory epidermal cells and several layers of subepidermal parenchyma, and it is supplied by vascular bundles that run in ground parenchyma. The secretory cells have large nuclei, a dense cytoplasm with numerous ER profiles, lipid droplets, and plastids with a substantial amount of starch, which are probably involved in the synthesis of volatile substances. In the cell walls of the osmophore cells, numerous pits with plasmodesmata occur that are likely to take part in symplastic transport of the scent compounds. The structure of the osmophores is similar in both investigated species. Both <i>S. graveolens</i> and <i>C. chlorochilon</i> are pollinated by euglossine bees, and such similarity results from adaptation to effective scent emission and attraction of pollinators.



2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xuezhao Sun ◽  
Ian G. Andrew ◽  
Philip J. Harris ◽  
Simone O. Hoskin ◽  
Keith N. Joblin ◽  
...  

The cell walls of forage chicory (Cichorium intybus) leaves are known to contain high proportions of pectic polysaccharides. However, little is known about the distribution of pectic polysaacharides among walls of different cell types/tissues and within walls. In this study, immunolabelling with four monoclonal antibodies was used to map the distribution of pectic polysaccharides in the cell walls of the laminae and midribs of these leaves. The antibodies JIM5 and JIM7 are specific for partially methyl-esterified homogalacturonans; LM5 and LM6 are specific for (1→4)-β-galactan and (1→5)-α-arabinan side chains, respectively, of rhamnogalacturonan I. All four antibodies labelled the walls of the epidermal cells with different intensities. JIM5 and JIM7, but not LM5 or LM6, labelled the middle lamella, tricellular junctions, and the corners of intercellular spaces of ground, xylem and phloem parenchyma. LM5, but not LM6, strongly labelled the walls of the few sclerenchyma fibres in the phloem of the midrib and lamina vascular bundles. The LM5 epitope was absent from some phloem parenchyma cells. LM6, but not LM5, strongly labelled the walls of the stomatal guard cells. The differential distribution of pectic epitopes among walls of different cell types and within walls may reflect the deposition and modification of these polysaccharides which are involved in cell wall properties and cell development.



2012 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 275-280 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Emília Maranhão Estelita ◽  
Ana Claudia Rodrigues

The Cyperaceae show the ability to incorporate silicon by depositing colloidal silica, which is recorded by the occurrence of projections in the form of cones, in inner tangential walls of some epidermal cells or "silica cells". Leaves of C. ligularis and R. aberrans were analyzed through the technique of electron backscatter. Cyperus ligularis accumulates silica, in addition to "silica cells", in some stomata, trichomes and the cell walls that surround the cavities of the aerenchyma. The silica in the latter occurs in various forms; however, the cells located near the vascular bundles have conical projections, similar to those of the epidermis. Rhynchospora aberrans presents "silica cells" whose projections have tapered "satellites". In this species, silica also occurs in stomata and certain epidermal cells adjacent to them. It appears that the silicon deposition occurs in combination with the wall (with no apparent structural changes), and structures of secretion, or projections of the wall. These structural changes in the species, and location, are probably related to functional and environmental factors, especially the soil, in addition to relation with taxonomic groups.



2012 ◽  
Vol 62 (1) ◽  
pp. 37-47 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mirosława Chwil ◽  
Elżbieta Weryszko-Chmielewska

The present study involved the measurement of size and the micromorphology of the floral elements of <i>Anchusa officinalis</i> L. which are attractants for insects. The structure of the epidermis on the surface of the calyx, petals, throat scales, pistil and nectary were analysed using light and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). For light microscopy observations, semi-permanent slides were prepared, which were treated with Lugol's iodine solution, Sudan III and fluoroglucine. The dark violet lobes of the corolla of <i>Anchusa officinalis</i>, with a velvety surface, and the throat scales, contrasting with them, belong to the most important optical attractants which lure insects from large distances. The dark pink colouring of the sepals additionally increases the attractiveness of the flowers. The epidermis covering the calyx formed different-sized non-glandular trichomes as well as glandular trichomes. The glandular trichomes were composed of a uni - or bicellular leg and a unicellular head. The colour of the corolla petals was determined by anthocyanins accumulated in the epidermal cells and in the more deeply situated parenchyma. The velvety surface was formed by the conical papillae, densely growing from the adaxial epidermis. The pink-violet throat scales with white hairs, covering the inlet to the tube of the corolla, were found at the inlet to the corolla throat. The longest trichomes on the surface of the scales were located in their lower and middle parts, whereas the shortest ones at their tips. The epidermis of the central part of the throat scales formed small papillae. The trichomes had thin cell walls, large vacuoles, numerous plastids and lipid droplets. The two-parted stigma of the pistil was covered by characteristic expanded outgrowths with wavy edges which performed the functions of structures facilitating the capture of pollen grains. As a result of the present study it was found that the structures affecting the attractiveness of the flowers, through various light effects within the corolla of <i>Anchusa officinalis</i>, include the papillae on the corolla surface, trichomes of the throat scales and the epidermal cells of the style. The trichomes of the scales can also be responsible for protecting pollen and nectar against rainfall.



Author(s):  
S. E. Keckler ◽  
D. M. Dabbs ◽  
N. Yao ◽  
I. A. Aksay

Cellular organic structures such as wood can be used as scaffolds for the synthesis of complex structures of organic/ceramic nanocomposites. The wood cell is a fiber-reinforced resin composite of cellulose fibers in a lignin matrix. A single cell wall, containing several layers of different fiber orientations and lignin content, is separated from its neighboring wall by the middle lamella, a lignin-rich region. In order to achieve total mineralization, deposition on and in the cell wall must be achieved. Geological fossilization of wood occurs as permineralization (filling the void spaces with mineral) and petrifaction (mineralizing the cell wall as the organic component decays) through infiltration of wood with inorganics after growth. Conversely, living plants can incorporate inorganics into their cells and in some cases into the cell walls during growth. In a recent study, we mimicked geological fossilization by infiltrating inorganic precursors into wood cells in order to enhance the properties of wood. In the current work, we use electron microscopy to examine the structure of silica formed in the cell walls after infiltration of tetraethoxysilane (TEOS).



Holzforschung ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 58 (5) ◽  
pp. 483-488 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christian Hansmann ◽  
Manfred Schwanninger ◽  
Barbara Stefke ◽  
Barbara Hinterstoisser ◽  
Wolfgang Gindl

Abstract Spruce and birch earlywood was acetylated to different weight percent gains using three different acetylation procedures. The absorbance spectra of secondary cell wall and compound cell corner middle lamella were determined by means of UV microscopy. Analysis of the spectra showed that the characteristic lignin absorbance peak in the UV spectrum of wood around 280 nm shifted to shorter wavelengths in acetylated samples. A distinct relationship between achieved weight percent gains after acetylation and observed spectral shifts could be established revealing a certain potential to measure acetylation on a cellular level by means of UV microscopy.



1972 ◽  
Vol 20 (12) ◽  
pp. 1006-1023 ◽  
Author(s):  
ALEX B. NOVIKOFF ◽  
PHYLLIS M. NOVIKOFF ◽  
CLEVELAND DAVIS ◽  
NELSON QUINTANA

A modification of the Novikoff-Goldfischer alkaline 3,3'-diaminobenzidine medium for visualizing peroxisomes is described. It makes possible light microscopic as well as electron microscopic studies of a recently described class of peroxisomes, the microperoxisomes. Potassium cyanide (5 x 10–3 M) is included in the medium to inhibit mitochondrial staining, the pH is 9.7 and there is a high concentration of H2O2 (0.05%). Two cell types have been chosen to illustrate the advantages of the new procedure for demonstrating the microperoxisomes: the absorptive cells in the human jejunum and the distal tubule cells in the guinea pig kidney. Suggestive relations of microperoxisomes and lipid are described in the human jejunum. The microperoxisomes are strategically located between smooth endoplasmic reticulum that radiates toward the organelles and contains lipid droplets and "central domains" of highly specialized endoplasmic reticulum which do not show the lipid droplets. The microperoxisomes are also present at the periphery of large lipid-like drops. In the guinea pig kidney tubule there is a striking difference between the thick limb of Henle and distal tubule. The distal tubule has a population of cells with large numbers of microperoxisomes readily visible by light microscopy; these cells are not present in the thick limb of Henle. Other differences between the two are also described.



2010 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 209-215 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zanderluce G. Luis ◽  
Kadja Milena G. Bezerra ◽  
Jonny Everson Scherwinski-Pereira

Changes in the leaf structure of plants grown in different conditions have been reported, such as increase in size and density of stomata and reduction in stomatal control, amount of epicuticular wax, and mesophyll thickness, with a high diversity of intercellular spaces. However, these changes are highly variable depending on the physiological and morphological characteristics of each species. The objective of this work was to analyze the adaptability and anatomical plasticity of oil palm seedlings produced after embryo rescue and pre-germinated seeds. Expanded leaves were prepared for evaluation of morphometric data and anatomical structures. It was verified that the environmental conditions in vitro negatively influenced the stomata density, epidermal and hypodermal thickness, and the values for the expansion cells and leaf mesophile. Anatomically, the oil palm leaves present the same tissues composition in both growth conditions, with uniseriate epidermal cells, and tetracitic stomata occurring in both epidermal surfaces. Epidermal cells from in vitro plants are thinner than ones from greenhouse. The midrib of leaves from greenhouse plants are more developed and is composed by only one central vascular bundle, while plants from in vitro cultivation developed three to four collateral vascular bundles.



1980 ◽  
Vol 58 (21) ◽  
pp. 2269-2273 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. B. Hanten ◽  
G. E. Ahlgren ◽  
J. B. Carlson

The anatomical development of the abscission zone in grains of Zizania aquatica L. was correlated with development of the embryo. The abscission zone is well developed when the embryo sac is mature. Soon after pollination, the first anatomical evidence of abscission appears as plasmolysis of the separation layer parenchyma cells. This is followed by separation of the layers by dissolution of the middle lamella and fragmentation of cell walls. Persistence of intact vascular tissue and presence of a surrounding cone-shaped mass of lignified cells may be involved in abscission of wild rice grains.



2021 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Smita Chaudhari

Plumbago is a traditional medicinal plant in Ayurveda. The paper presents anatomical study of leaf, petiole, stem and root of two species of Plumbago namely P. zeylanica, P. auriculata and, its relevance in discrimination of these two species. Anatomical features of leaf which are of diagnostic value in delimitation of both taxa are outline of T. S.,shape and size of epidermal cells, presence of sclerenchyma surrounding the vascular bundles, number of tannins cells. Characters of taxonomic significance in petiole anatomy are outline of T. S, presence of trichomes, shape and size of epidermal cells, abundance of collenchyma, arrangement and number of vascular bundles, presence of sclerenchyma surrounding vascular bundles, number of tannin cells. The diagnostically useful anatomical features of stem to discriminate both taxa of Plumbago are degree of elevation of stem ridges, occurrence of double layered epidermis, size of epidermal cells, distinctness of endodermis, abundance and distribution of pericyclicsclerenchyama, number of vascular bundles. Anatomical features of taxonomic significance in root are width of cortex and abundance of starch grains in cortex cells, abundance and distribution of pericyclics clerenchyama, amount of vascularization, distribution, diameter and density of vessels, width of medullary ray.



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