J Integr Plant Biol. ›› 1982, Vol. 24 ›› Issue (2): -.

• Research Articles •    

Fine Structure of Blue-Green Algae and the Cells Lined along the Endophyte Cavity in the Coralloid Root of Cycas

Zhu Cheng   

Abstract: The ultrastructure of vegetative cells of blue-green alga, Anabaena cycadae, in the coralloid root of Cycas revoluta has the general characteristics of the cyanophycean cells. Their heterocysts are characterized by heavy envelope deposition, well developed pore channel with its plug, absence of large granules as inclusions and reduced and flattened photosynthetic thylakoids. By these characteristical features, the frequency of heterocysts occurring in this algal population of the coralloid root may be estimated to ca. 40%. This high heterocyst frequency is a sign of relatively high activity of nitrogen fixation in this symbiont. The ultrastructure of the cells lined along the endophyte cavity in the coralloid root shows that they have the function to maintain vigorous nutritional transport in short distance. These cells are especially characterized by the presence of numerious outgrowths on the cell wall into the endophyte cavity. Correspondingly, there are abundant mitochondria, dictyosomes and numerious vesicles in the cytoplasm. The plasma membrane becomes tortuous along the cell wall and many secretory granules are present between the plasma membrane and cell wall in the cytoplasm amyloplasts and starch granules also occur constantly. The ultrastructure observed above indicates the fact that there is sound structural basis for the metabolic relationship between the host cells and the symbiont.

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