Summary
Morphology, occurrence, and distribution of dilated cisternae of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) were studied by electron microscopy. The cisternae which contained an electron-dense matrix were intimately associated with the granular ER membranes appearing as tubular necks at the edges of the ER profiles. After budding off from the ER the cisternae still had ribosomes attached to the outside of the bounding membranes. The accumulations were variable in shape, being 0.4 to 1.5μ in width and 4 to 5μ in length.
The cisternae were found to be unique for plants of theCruciferae and could not be observed in species from related families such asPapaveraceae andResedaceae.
The dilated cisternae were a common component of the cytoplasm in root tips, stems, and leaves. In meristematic cells the number of accumulations was small but increased in older differentiating cells of the root cap. The similarity to “microbodies” described by previous authors from other plants is discussed.
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Iversen, TH. The morphology, occurrence, and distribution of dilated cisternae of the endoplasmic reticulum in tissues of plants of theCruciferae . Protoplasma 71, 467–477 (1970). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01279689
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01279689