Summary
An extensive system of microtubules develops during meiotic prophase in the mossRhynchostegium serrulatum (Hedw.)Jaeg. &Sauerb. Development of the cytoskeleton can be traced to early prophase when the nucleus is acentric and the single plastid divides into four plastids. The cytoskeletal microtubules are associated with equidistant positioning of the four plastids at the distal tetrad poles and with migration of the nucleus to a central position in the sporocyte. The cytoskeleton, which interconnects plastids and encloses the nucleus, contributes to the establishment of moss sporocyte polarity. Just prior to metaphase I evidence of the prophase cytoskeleton is lost as the bipolar metaphase I spindle develops in association with discrete polar organizers located in opposite cleavage furrows between plastids.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Allen, C. E., 1916: Four-lobed spore mother cells inCatharinea. Amer. J. Bot.8, 456–460.
Bassel, A. R., Kuehnert, C. C., Miller, J. H., 1981: Nuclear migration and asymmetric cell division inOnoclea sensibilis spores: an ultrastructural and cytochemical study. Amer. J. Bot.68, 350–360.
Brown, R. C., Lemmon, B. E., 1980a: Ultrastructure of sporogenesis in a moss,Ditrichum pallidum. I. Meiotic prophase. Bryologist83, 137–152.
—, 1980b: Ultrastructure of sporogenesis in a moss,Ditrichum pallidum. II. Metaphase I through the tetrad. Bryologist83, 153–160.
—, 1980c: Ultrastructure of sporogenesis in a moss,Ditrichum pallidum. III. Spore wall formation. Amer. J. Bot.67, 918–934.
—, 1981: Aperture development in spores of the mossTrematodon longicollis Mx. Protoplasma106, 273–287.
Burgess, J., Northcote, D. H., 1968: The relationship between the endoplasmic reticulum and microtubular aggregation and disaggregation. Planta80, 1–14.
Davis, B. M., 1899: The spore-mother-cell ofAnthoceros. Bot. Gaz.28, 89–108.
—, 1901: Nuclear studies onPellia. Ann. Bot.15, 147–180.
Dill, F. J., 1964: Dictyotene stage of meiosis in mosses. Science144, 541–543.
Esau, K., Gill, R. H., 1969: Structural relations between nucleus and cytoplasm during mitosis inNicotiana tabacum mesophyll. Canad. J. Bot.47, 581–591.
Eymé, J., Suire, C., 1971: Recherches sur l'évolution ultrastructurale des constituants cellulaires durant la sporogenèse des mousses. Botaniste54, 109–151.
Farmer, J. B., 1894: Studies in Hepaticae: onPallavicinia decipiens Mitten. Ann. Bot.8, 35–52.
—, 1904: On the interpretation of the quadripolar spindle in theHepaticae. Bot. Gaz.37, 63–65.
—,Moore, J. E. S., 1905: On the maiotic phase (reduction divisions) in animals and plants. Quart. J. Microsc. Sci.48, 489–557.
Fowke, L. C., Pickett-Heaps, J. D., 1978: Electron microscope study of vegetative cell division in two species ofMarchantia. Canad. J. Bot.56, 467–475.
Hepler, P. K., 1980: Membranes in the mitotic apparatus of barley cells. J. Cell Biol.86, 490–499.
Jensen, K. G., Hulbary, R. L., 1978: Chloroplast development during sporogenesis in six species of mosses. Amer. J. Bot.65, 823–833.
Kiermayer, O., 1972: Beeinflussung der postmitotischen Kernmigration vonMicrasterias denticulata Breb. durch das Herbizid Trifluralin. Protoplasma75, 421–426.
Klasterska, I., 1977: The concept of the prophase of meiosis. Hereditas86, 205–210.
—,Ramel, C., 1979: Prophase of plant meiosis: sequences and interpretation of stages. Genetica51, 15–20.
Lambert, A.-M., 1974: Ultrastructure de l'appareil fusorial en méiose chez la mousseMnium hornum L. Bull. Soc. Bot. France121, 93–96.
—, 1978: La méiose chez les Bryophytes: ultrastructure et dynamique du fuseau chez une mousse,Mnium hornum Hedw. Bryophyt. Biblio.13, 113–145.
—, 1980: The role of chromosomes in anaphase trigger and nuclear envelope activity in spindle formation. Chromosoma (Berl.)76, 295–308.
Mueller, D. M. J., 1974: Spore wall formation and chloroplast development during sporogenesis in the mossFissidens limbatus. Amer. J. Bot.61, 525–534.
Pickett-Heaps, J. D., 1974: Plant microtubules. In: Dynamic aspects of plant ultrastructure (Robards, A. W., ed.), pp. 219–255. London: McGraw-Hill Book Co. Ltd.
—,Fowke, L. C., 1970: Mitosis, cytokinesis, and cell elongation in the desmid,Closterium littorale. J. Phycol.6, 189–215.
—,Northcote, D. H., 1966: Organization of microtubules and endoplasmic reticulum during mitosis and cytokinesis in wheat meristems. J. Cell Sci.1, 109–120.
Schmiedel, G., Schnepf, E., 1979: Side branch formation and orientation in the caulonema of the moss,Funaria hygrometrica: normal development and fine structure. Protoplasma100, 367–389.
Sheffield, E., Bell, P. R., 1979: Ultrastructural aspects of sporogenesis in a fernPteridium aquilinum (L.) Kuhn. Ann. Bot.44, 393–405.
Wada, B., 1966: Analysis of mitosis. Cytologia30, 1–158.
—, 1976: Mitotic studies based onin vivo observations VIII. The evolution of mitotic spindles in eukaryota: a negation of the breakdown of the nuclear membranes. Cytologia41, 153–175.
Wolniak, S. M., 1976: Organelle distribution and apportionment during meiosis in the microsporocyte ofGinkgo biloba L. Amer. J. Bot.63, 251–258.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Brown, R.C., Lemmon, B.E. Ultrastructure of meiosis in the mossRhynchostegium serrulatum I. Prophasic microtubules and spindle dynamics. Protoplasma 110, 23–33 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01314678
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01314678