Cytoplasmic differentiation during tetrad formation and early microspore development inImpatiens sultani

Summary

From early prophase stage until probaculae formation within the tetrad stage considerable cytoplasmic changes occur. The changes merely concern the ribosome population, the plasma matrix and, the endomembrane system formed by endoplasmic reticulum, dictyosomes and dictyosome-vesicles.

The ultrastructure and morphology of mitochondria and plastids remain fairly unchanged, apart from the mobilization of starch during primexine formation.

During meiotic prophase there is an increase in ribosome number, accompanied by the presence of nucleoloids in the cytoplasm. Simultaneously the electron density of the cytoplasm strongly increases, indicating a fair increase in protein content. Nucleoloids are also observed in the cytoplasm after primexine formation, accompanied by localized accumulation of ribosomes. Up to the individualization of the microspores the dictyosomes are in an inactive state. After that, they become very active, especially during primexine formation when numerous large dictyosome-vesicles are present.

The endoplasmic reticulum (ER), initially in a plate-like configuration, disappears from the cytoplasm during primexine formation. Abundant, smooth and tubular ER is present when probaculum formation starts.