A Supplementary Study on the Cell Division of Root Apical Cells in Some Pteridophytes

Su-Hwa Tsai Chiang ； Chin-Yi Lu

《TAIWANIA》 17卷3期 (1972/12) Pp. 229-238

https://doi.org/10.6165/tai.1972.17.229

並列摘要

A study of the root apical meristems of three species of ferns, Ophioglossum petiolatum Hook, Ceratopteris thalictrcides (L.) Brongn, and Marsilea crenata Pr. has been made. These ferms were cultured in both the presence and absence of colchicine. The apical cells of some colchicines treated roots showed either a multinucleate condition or other abnormalities, whereas the apical cells of all non-treated roots were mononucleate. All the roots of these three species formed tumors after treatment. The typical c-metaphasic nucleus which has frequently been observed in angiosperms was not seen in this experiment. Apparently the dividing cells of pteri-dophytes show a different pattern from those in angiosperms in response to the action of colchicines.It is clear that the root apical cells in these three species always divide more frequently than their adjacent cells. Among these, the root apical cells in Ceratopteris divides more frequently than the other two species. The presence of a quiescent center in the root apical meristem in these ferns has not been verified.