The ontogenic study of the ultrastucture in root cap cells of pea plant (Pisum sativum L.)

Root cap cells of plant species undergo different developmental changes. In the present study, the ontogeny of the root cap cells of Pisum sativum L. was studied. The root tips of 3-day-old seedlings were immersed in primary fixative containing 1.5% (w/v) paraformaldehyde and 2% (v/v) glutaraldehyde in 100 mM phosphate buffer prior to being transferred to a secondary fixative containing 1% (w/v) osmium tetroxide. The fixed materials were embedded in London white resin and 60 nm thick sections were studied using a transmission electron microscope (TEM). The cells of columella were evident under the meristem zone by showing characterisics typical of statocytes. In these cells, a large nucleus occupied a position at the proximal cell pole, whereas the plentiful amyloplasts and endoplasmic reticulum were placed at the distal cell pole. The cells differentiated to the secretory cells as they were shifted to the peripheral side of the root cap. The cells became larger and their nucleoplasmic ratio was reduced. Concurrently, the quantity of membranes of vesicular-tubular endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi dictyosomes increased. Consequently, all of the organelles were moved to the peripheral sides of the cytoplasm and an organelle-free zone in the upper side of the cells was formed. In the next step, a number of endoplasmic reticulum membranes surrounded the organelle-free zone in order to form the central vacuole. Therefore, endoplasmic reticulum could be considered as the origin of vacuole in the root cap cells of Pisum sativum. The growth of vacuole was the last ontogenetic stage in the cells, which finally sloughed off from the root cap.