Summary
Differentiating tracheids in Pinus radiata D. Don have been examined with the electron microscope. Despite the fact that one of the major differentiation processes is cellulose formation, little ultrastructural evidence has been found to indicate how this occurs. On the other hand, there is ample evidence of the incorporation of non-cellulosic material into both the expanding primary wall and the developing secondary wall. The only structure which could possibly be related to cellulose formation is a system of osmiophilic particles which have been found in the space between the plasmalemma and the developing wall, or attached to the most recently formed wall layer. The absence of microtubules during the main phase of secondary wall formation supports the view that these structures are not involved directly in the biosynthesis of cellulose.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Barnett, J. R. 1971a. Electron microscope preparation techniques applied to the light microscopy of the cambium and its derivatives in Pinus radiata D. Don. J. Microsc. 94: 175–180
Barnett, J. R. 1971b. Winter activity in the cambium of Pinus radiata. N. Z. J. For. Sci. 1: 208–222
Barnett, J. R. 1973. Seasonal variation in the ultrastructure of the cambium in New Zealand grown Pinus radiata D. Don. Ann. Bot. 37: 1005–1011
barnett, J. R. 1975. Seasonal variation of organelle numbers in sections of fusiform cambium cells of Pinus radiata D. Don. N.Z.J. Bot. 13: 325–332
Barnett, J. R.; Harris, J. M. 1975. Early stages of bordered pit formation in radiata pine. Wood Sci. Technol. 9: 233–241
Barnett, J. R.; Preston, R. D. 1970. Arrays of granules associated with the plasmalemma in swarmers of Cladophora. Ann. Bot. 34: 1011–1017
Cronshaw, J.; Wardrop, A. B. 1963. The organisation of cytoplasm in differentiating xylem. Aust. J. Bot. 12: 15–23
Imamura, Y.; Harada, H.; Saiki, H. 1974. Embedding substances of pit membranes in softwood tracheids and their degradation by enzymes. Wood Sci. Technol. 8: 243–254
Murmanis, L. 1971. Particles and microtubules in vascular cells of Pinus strobus L. during wall formation. New Phytol. 70: 1089–1093
Nelmes, B. J.; Preston, R. D.; Ashworth, D. 1973. A possible function of microtubules suggested by their abnormal distribution in rubbery wood. J. Cell Sci. 13: 741–751
Parham, R. A.; Baird, W. M. 1973. The bordered pit membrane in differentiating balsam fir. Wood & Fiber 5: 80–86
Parker, J. 1971. Unusual tonoplast in conifer leaves. Nature 234: 231
Preston, R. D. 1952. The Molecular Architecture of Plant Cell Walls. Chapman and Hall Ltd, London, 211 pp.
Preston, R. D. 1964. Structural and mechanical aspects of plant cell walls with particular reference to synthesis and growth. In: Zimmerman, M. H. (Ed.), The Formation of Wood in Forest Trees. Academic Press. pp. 169–188
Robards, A. W. 1969. Particles associated with developing plant cell walls. Planta (Berl.) 88: 376–379
Robinson, D. G.; Preston, R. D. 1971. Fine structure of swarmers of Cladophora and Chaetomorpha. 1. The plasmalemma and Golgi apparatus in naked swarmers. J. Cell Sci. 9:581–602
Roelofsen, P. A. 1959. The Plant Cell Wall. Gebrüder Borntraeger, Berlin-Nikolassee. 335 pp.
Thomas, R. J. 1970. Origin of bordered pit margo microfibrils. Wood & Fiber 2: 285–288
Wardrop, A. B. 1971. Occurrence and formation in plants. In: Sarkanen K. V., Ludwig, C. H. (Eds.), Lignins. John Wiley and Sons Inc.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
The author wishes to thank Mrs B. A. Hodgkiss for technical assistance.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Barnett, J.R. Tracheid differentiation in Pinus radiata. Wood Sci. Technol. 11, 83–92 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00350987
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00350987