FINE STRUCTURE IN CELLS OF PEA AND WHEAT EMBRYOS

Abstract

To provide a basis for relating biochemical findings on isolated cell fractions to cytological structure in situ, embryos of pea and wheat were fixed with osmic acid, sectioned, and observed in phase-contrast and electron microscopes. The nuclei of all cells were similar, showing nuclear membranes, chromosomes, and prominent nucleoli. The cytoplasm contained highly developed structure which presumably reflected the incipient growth condition of the cells. Several cytoplasmic components were common to both embryos: small dense granules, endoplasmic reticulum, mitochondria, presumed proplastids, amyloplasts, irregular bodies, plasma membranes, and plasmodesmata. The small dense granules, presumably ribonucleoprotein particles, occurred profusely, both free and in association with extensively developed endoplasmic reticulum. These particles are probably responsible for the microsomal fractions obtainable from embryos and seedlings. The mitochondria were usually relatively small (0.25−0.5 μ diameter) although groups of very long (5 μ) ones were occasionally found. Bodies resembling mitochondria in size and shape, but lacking cristae, were present and represent either immature mitochondria or proplastids. Reserve material occurred as starch in structurally complex amyloplasts and possibly as protein in the irregular bodies. In addition to these structures cells of the wheat embryos remote from the meristems contained prominent cytoplasmic bodies classified as "dense" and "thick-walled". The dense bodies probably represent stored lipids while the significance of the thick-walled bodies, which showed a variety of forms, is unknown.