Monoplastidy in spermatogenesis of Lycopodium obscurum

Abstract

Unlike Lycopodium laterale, which is polyplastidic during spermatogenesis, Lycopodium obscurum exhibits monoplastidy beginning in the early proliferative stages of antheridial development. Previous cell generations are polyplastidic and plastid fusion involving connective cylinders establishes the monoplastidic condition. Plastid and nuclear divisions are coordinated in L. obscurum with the plastids positioned at opposite poles prior to spindle development. Unlike monoplastidic cell divisions with morphogenetic plastid migration and polarity in other lycophytes, mosses, and hornworts, however, the spindles in L. obscurum do not originate from the plastid envelopes but from endoplasmic reticulum positioned against the plastid. In the final divisions, spindle microtubules emanate from structurally defined microtubule organizing centers that develop between the plastids and nucleus. Preceding the appearance of centrioles in the spermatid mother cell, the centrosomes comprise electron-dense granular matrices with associated vesicles and endoplasmic reticulum. Among archegoniate microtubule organizing centers, the discrete acentriolar centrosomes of Lycopodium most closely resemble the microtubule organizing centers in moss spore development and the polar organizer of liverwort mitosis. Key words: annulate lamellae, centrosome, Lycopodium, microtubule organizing center, monoplastidy, plastid dividing ring.