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The polytene nucleus of the giant hair cell ofBryonia anthers

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Summary

The growth of the nuclei and cells that constitute the hairs on the anther ofBryonia dioica has been investigated. The cell at the base of the hair reaches a volume of nearly 106 μm3 just before the flower opens, while the cells distal to it do not grow and have volumes of less than 104 μm3. The nucleus of the basal cell undergoes endopolyploidisation, doubling its DNA every 1.3 days in the early stage of this process, to reach a maximum DNA content of 256 C which is equal to 512 pg of DNA. Nuclei in the distal hair cells do not have more than a 4 C DNA content. The endopolyploid nucleus of the basal cell contains chromosome structures that are polytene. Homologous polytene chromosomes often appear to be paired.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Agricultural Research Council Unit of Developmental Botany, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK

    Peter W. Barlow

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  1. Peter W. Barlow
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Barlow, P.W. The polytene nucleus of the giant hair cell ofBryonia anthers. Protoplasma 83, 339–349 (1975). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01418593

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01418593

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