Abstract
The embryo sac ofNigella damascena, with wall ingrowths over entire surface and distinctly formed wandlabyrinthe at the poles, displays a well integrated model for short distance transport of nutrients. The degenerating nucellus creates an influx of metabolites into the embryo sac. The embryo sac wandlabyrinthe play a dual role—initially aid with the influx of metabolites into the embryo sac, but later participate in endosperm wall formation. The two synergid apices exhibit prominent filiform apparatus which function differently. One of the synergids degenerates immediately after fertilization where filiform apparatus helps in receiving the pollen tube. The other undamaged synergid persists along with filiform apparatus upto the octant embryo stage and this filiform apparatus probably facilitates short distance metabolite transport into the synergid. The antipodal cells show 3 types of wall ingrowths—(i) wall ingrowths at the antipodal-nucellus interface which are long, branched and spread fan-like into the antipodal cytoplasm, indicating the flow of metabolites into the antipodes from the nucellus, (ii) inter-antipodal wall-ingrowths that are small, papillate and present on both sides of the wall indicating the exchange of metabolites between the antipodes and (iii) wall labyrinths at the antipode-central cell interance which are very small and are directed into the antipode cytoplasm.
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Vijayaraghavan, M.R., Misra, G. & Sujata, V. Wandlabyrinthe in the embryo sac ofNigella damascena Linn.. Proc. Indian Acad. Sci. 98, 261–268 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03053797
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03053797