Summary
Sieve elements of various ages were examined in Platycerium bifurcatum (Cav.) C. Chr. and Phlebodium aureum (L.) J. Sm., only older ones in Polypodium schraderi Mett. and Microgramma lycopodioides (L.) Copel. Early in sieve-element differentiation small crystalloids arise in the matrix of the sieve-element nuclei in Platycerium. As differentiation continues, the crystalloids increase in size and eventually may occupy up to a third of the cross-sectional area of the nucleus and extend almost its entire length. At the time of nuclear degeneration the crystalloids are liberated into the cytoplasm. Nuclear degeneration during sieve-element development in Phlebodium is essentially similar to that in Platycerium, with the exception that no nuclear inclusions exist in the sieve-element nuclei in Phlebodium. Stacking of endoplasmic reticulum against the nuclear envelope occurs in both Platycerium and Phlebodium. In the final stages of degeneration, the nuclear envelope ruptures and the contents of the nucleus mix with the cytoplasm. At maturity the sieve elements of all four species are devoid of nuclei, although occasional remnants of chromatin persist along the walls of some mature cells.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Behnke, H.-D., Paliwal, G. S.: Ultrastructure of phloem and its development in Gnetum gnemon, with some observations on Ephedra campylopoda. Protoplasma (Vienna) 78, 305–319 (1973)
Burr, F. A., Evert, R. F.: Some aspects of sieve-element structure and development in Selaginella krau-ssiana. Protoplasma (Vienna) 78, 81–97 (1973)
Copeland, E. B.: Genera Filicum. Annales Cryptogamici et Phytopathologici, Verdoorn, F., ed., vol. V. Waltham, Mass. Chronica bot. 1947
Deshpande, B. P., Evert, R. F.: A reevaluation of extruded nucleoli in sieve elements. J. Ultrastruct. Res. 33, 483–494 (1970)
Esau, K.: The phloem. In: Handbuch der Pflanzenanatomie. Histologie, Zimmermann, W., Ozenda, P., Wulff, H. D., eds., vol. V, pt. 2. Berlin-Stuttgart: Borntraeger 1969
Esau, K.: Changes in the nucleus and the endoplasmic reticulum during differentiation of a sieve element in Mimosa podica L. Ann. Bot. 36, 703–710 (1972)
Esau, K., Cheadle, V. I., Gifford, E. M., Jr.: Comparative structure and possible trends of specialization of the phloem. Amer. J. Bot. 40, 9–19 (1953)
Esau, K., Gill, R. H.: Aggregation of endoplasmic reticulum and its relation to the nucleus in a differentiating sieve element. J. Ultrastruct. Res. 34, 144–158 (1971)
Esau, K., Gill, R. H.: Nucleus and endoplasmic reticulum in differentiating root protophloem of Nicotiana tabacum. J. Ultrastruct. Res. 41, 160–175 (1972)
Esau, K., Gill, R. H.: Correlations in differentiation of protophloem sieve elements of Allium cepa root. J. Ultrastruct. Res. 44, 310–328 (1973)
Evert, R. F., Bornman, C. H., Butler, V., Gilliland, M. G.: Structure and development of the sieve-cell protoplast in leaf veins of Welwitschia. Protoplasma (Vienna) 76, 1–21 (1973)
Evert, R. F., Davis, J. D., Tucker, C. M., Alfieri, F. J.: On the occurrence of nuclei in mature sieve elements. Planta (Berl.) 95, 281–296 (1970)
Hébant, C.: Observations sur le phloème de quelques Filicinées tropicales. Naturalia monspeliensia, Sér. Bot. 20, 135–196 (1969a)
Hébant, C.: Nouvelles observations sur le leptome de la tige feuillée des Polytrichum. C. R. Acad. Sci. (Paris) 269D 2530–2533 (1969b)
Kollmann, R.: Zur funktionellen Morphologie des Coniferen-Phloems. Habilschr., Univ. Bonn 1966
Kruatrachue, M., Evert, R. F.: Structure and development of sieve elements in the leaf of Isoetes muricata. Amer. J. Bot. 61, 253–266 (1974)
Laflèche, D.: Ultrastructure et cytochimie des inclusions flagellées des cellules criblées de Phaseolus vulgaris. J. Microscopie 5, 493–510 (1966)
Lamoureux, C. H.: Comparative studies on phloem of vascular cryptogams. Doct. diss., Univ. of Calif., Davis, 1961
Liberman-Maxe, M.: Étude cytologique de la différenciation des cellules criblées de Polypodium vulgare (Polypodiacée). J. Microscopie 12, 271–288 (1971)
Maxe, M.: Étude de la dégénerescence nucléaire dans les cellules criblées de Polypodium vulgare (Polypodiacée). C. R. Acad. Sci. (Paris) 262 D, 2211–2214 (1966)
Mazia, D., Brewer, P. A., Alfert, M.: The cytochemical staining and measurement of protein with mercuric bromphenol blue. Biol. Bull. 104, 57–67 (1953)
Neuberger, D. S., Evert, R. F.: Structure and development of the sieve-element protoplast in the hypocotyl of Pinus resinosa. Amer. J. Bot. 61, 360–374 (1974)
Palevitz, B. A., Newcomb, E. H.: The ultrastructure and development of tubular and crystalline P-protein in the sieve elements of certain Papilionaceous legumes. Protoplasma (Vienna) 72, 399–426 (1971)
Paolillo, D. J., Jr.: The developmental anatomy of Isoetes. Illinois Biol. Monogr. No. 31. Urbana: Illinois Univ. Press 1963
Poirault, G.: Recherches anatomiques sur les Cryptogames vasculaires. Ann. Sci. nat. Bot. 18, 113–256 (1893)
Spurr, A. R.: A low-viscosity epoxy resin embedding medium for electron microscopy. J. Ultrastruct. Res. 26, 31–43 (1969)
Stiles, W.: The structure of the aerial shoots of Psilotum flaccidum Wall. Ann. Bot. 24, 373–387 (1910)
Wergin, W. P., Gruber, P. J., Newcomb, E. H.: Fine structural investigation of nuclear inclusions in plants. J. Ultrastruct. Res. 30, 533–557 (1970)
Wergin, W. P., Newcomb, E. H.: Formation and dispersal of crystalline P-protein in sieve elements of soybean (Glycine max L.). Protoplasma (Vienna) 71, 365–388 (1970)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Evert, R.F., Eichhorn, S.E. Sieve-element ultrastructure in Platycerium bifurcatum and some other polypodiaceous ferns: The nucleus. Planta 119, 301–318 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00388332
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00388332