Abstract: Two cell lines, white tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) cell line and green carrot (Daucus carota) cell line, each with very distinct cellular structure markers by which the two cell lines could be identified at levels of callus cells, with light microscopy and electron microscopy, were established and used for interfamilial cell co-culture in which callus cells were well mixed and finely dispersed and treated with K+ hypotonic solution. Variegated interfamilial chimeral calli were observed after 10 to 15 days of co-culture. An isolation layer was formed and became thickened at the interface between the two attached unrelated callus cells and the heteroplastic cell wall complex was gradually established. Then the isolation layer became thinned and disappeared and plasmodesmata were formed secondarily within the thinned region and the interfamilial cell symplast was established. The wall in the region with isolation layer was about twice as thick as the fused cell wall of the symplastic. The developmental process of the interfamilial cell symplastic connection was discussed and it was suggested that (1) the nonspecific formation of isolation layer as initial adhesion between the two attached unrelated cells was the prerequisit for symplastic connection de novo formation, and (2) the specific cell recognition leading to disappearance or thickening to lignification or suberization of isolation layer and formation of plasmodesmata started within the isolation layer.

Key words: Interfamilial cell co-culture, Cellular structure marker, Isolation layer, Secondary plasmodesmata, Interfamilial cell symplast