Summary
Ultrastructural observations on monoplastidic root tip cells ofIsoetes andSelaginella demonstrate two important phenomena associated with preprophasic preparation for mitotic cell division, 1. the preprophase band and 2. precise orientation of the dividing plastid relative to the preprophase band. Both of these phenomena accurately predict the future plane of cell division. The plastid divides in a plane parallel to the spindle and each cell inherits a single plastid which caps the telophase nucleus. When succesive transverse divisions occur, the plastid migrates prior to prophase from a position near an old transverse wall to a lateral position in the cell. The plastid is oriented with its median constriction precisely intersected by the plane of the preprophase band. When a longitudinal division follows a transverse division, the plastid remains in its position adjacent to an old transverse wall where it is bisected by the plane of the longitudinally oriented preprophase band microtubules.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Butterfass, T., 1979: Patterns of chloroplast reproduction. Wien-New York: Springer.
Dunlop, D. W., 1949: Notes on the cytology of some lycopsids. Bull. Torrey Bot. Club76, 266–277.
Dyer, A. F., 1976: The visible events of mitotic cell division. In: Cell division in higher plants (Yeoman, M. M., ed.), pp. 49–110. London-New York: Academic Press.
Ekambaram, T., Venkatanathan, T. N., 1933: Studies onIsoetes coromandelina L. I. Sporogenesis. J. Indian Bot. Soc.12, 191–225.
Grenville, D. J., Peterson, R. L., 1981: Structure of aerial and subterranean roots ofSelaginella kraussiana A. Brit. Bot. Gaz.142, 73–81.
Gunning, B. E. S., 1982: The cytokinetic apparatus: Its development and spatial regulation. In: The cytoskeleton in plant growth and development (Lloyd, C. W., ed.), pp. 229–292. London-New York: Academic Press.
—,Hardham, A. R., 1982: Microtubules. Ann. Rev. Plant Physiol.33, 651–698.
Hawes, C. R., Juniper, B. E., Horne, J. C., 1983: Electron microscopy of resin-free sections of plant cells. Protoplasma115, 88–93.
Ma, R. M., 1928: The chloroplasts ofIsoetes melanopoda. Amer. J. Bot.15, 277–284 + 1 pl.
Ma, R. M., 1931: The chloroplasts ofSelaginella. Bull Torrey Bot. Club57, 277–284 + 1 pl.
Marquette, W., 1907: Manifestations of polarity in plant cells which apparently are without centrosomes. Beih. Bot. Centralblatt21, 281–303 + 1 pl.
Paolillo, D. J., Jr., 1962: The plastids ofIsoetes howellii. Amer. J. Bot.49, 590–598.
Peterson, R. L., Scott, M. G., Kott, L., 1979: Root cap structure inIsoetes macrospora Dur. Ann. Bot.44, 739–744.
Pickett-Heaps, J. D., 1969: Preprophase microtubules in stomatal differentiation; some effects of centrifugation on symmetrical and asymmetrical cell division. J. Ultrastruct. Res.27, 24–44.
Porter, K. R., Tucker, J. B., 1981: The ground substance of the living cell. Sci. Amer.244, 41–51.
Stewart, W. N., 1948: A study of the plastids in the cells of the mature sporophyte inIsoetes. Bot. Gaz.110, 281–300.
Thomas, D., 1976: Studies on the reproductive biology of selected Lycopsida. Ph.D. Thesis, Bangor: Univ. College North Wales.
Wardrop, A. B., 1983: Evidence for the possible presence of a microtrabecular lattice in plant cells. Protoplasma115, 81–87.
Webster, T. R., Jagels, R., 1977: Morphology and development of aerial roots ofSelaginella martensii grown in moist chambers. Can. J. Bot.55, 2149–2158.
Whatley, J. M., 1974: The behaviour of chloroplasts during cell division ofIsoetes lacustris L. New Phytol.73, 139–142.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Brown, R.C., Lemmon, B.E. Plastid apportionment and preprophase microtubule bands in monoplastidic root meristem cells ofIsoetes andSelaginella . Protoplasma 123, 95–103 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01283580
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01283580