Symmetric and Asymmetric Mitosis and Cytokinesis in the Root Tip of Hydrocharis Morsus-Ranae L

Abstract

In the roots of Hydrocharis morsus-ranae, certain cells of the protoderm divide asymmetrically to form a small, highly cytoplasmic trichoblast proximally, and a larger, more vacuolate epidermal cell distally. The former develops as a root hair without further division; the latter divides several times to form ordinary epidermal cells. During mitosis, presumed dictyosome vesicles and fragments or sections of reticulated or serrate sheets of ER, aligned with the spindle microtubules, were observed among the chromosomes as early as metaphase, suggesting that the portions of ER were involved in formation of the cell plate or in some other function in the equatorial region. A pre-prophase band of microtubules was not observed. Asymmetric divisions differ from symmetric ones in the skewed orientation of the metaphase plate, the formation of a curved, rather wavy cell wall and the slightly greater vacuolation of one daughter cell. Less difference in the ultrastructure of the daughter cells resulting from an asymmetric division was observed in this rather slowly growing material than in other examples previously described in the literature.