AN ULTRASTRUCTURAL STUDY OF CELL DIVISION IN THE CAMBIUM

Abstract

The fine structure of dividing cambial cells of Ulmus americana and Tilia americana has been studied in material fixed in glutaraldehyde followed by osmium tetroxide. The cambia examined consisted of 7–9 rows of unexpanded fusiform cells, all of which had similar ultrastructural components. The fine structure and sequence of events of mitosis and cytokinesis in the dividing cambial cells apparently are similar to those of dividing cells in root tips and leaves. Of special interest was the observation that during cytokinesis, a broad cytoplasmic plate or phragmosome precedes the developing phragmoplast and cell plate through the dividing cambial cell. Smooth and coated vesicles derived from dictyosomes are associated with cell plate formation in these cells, smooth vesicles primarily with earlier stages of plate formation, and coated vesicles in later stages.