Summary
The development of the cotyledon cells of Crambe abyssinica was studied using the electron microscope.
New evidence is presented, concerning the site of origin of the oil body. The spherosomes and oil bodies were found to be separate entities, with different sites of origin and function within the cell.
The spherosomes, which were shown to be present in the cell before the onset of oil body formation, and formed from the endoplasmic reticulum, contains acid β glycerophosphatase. At least one of its functions is to supply a hydrolytic enzyme to the vacuoles in which the alcurone grains subsequently develop.
Oil bodies were found to develop from small areas of particulate material in the cytoplasm 8–10 days after petal fall, and their function appears to be as sites of an oil storage product (triglyceride), which is synthesised during seed development.
The development of the protein body is also briefly discussed.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
Abbreviations
- A.P.F.:
-
after petal fall
References
Berjak, P.: Lysosomal compartmentation: Ultrastructural aspects of the origin, development and function of vacuoles in root cells of Lepidium sativum. Ann. Bot. 36, 73–81 (1972)
Dainty, J.: The structure and possible function of the vacuole. In: Plant cell organelles, p. 40–41, Pridham J. B. ed. London: Academic Press 1968
Engleman, E. M.: Ontogeny of aleurone grains in cotton embryo. Amer. J. Bot. 53, 231–237 (1966)
Frey-Wyssling, A., Grieshaber, E., Mühlethaber, K.: Origin of spherosomes in plant cells. J. Ultrastruct. Res. 8, 506–516 (1963)
Frey-Wyssling, A., Mühlethaber, K.: Ultrastructural plant cytology. Amsterdam-London-New York: Elsevier Publishing Co. 1965
Gahan, P. B.: Histochemistry of lysosomes. Int. Rev. Cytol. 21, 1–63 (1967)
Gahan, P. B., McLean, J.: Subcellular localisation and possible function of acid β-glycerophosphatases and naphthol esterases in plant cells. Planta (Berl.) 89, 126–135 (1969)
Gomori, G.: Microscopic histochemistry—principles and practice. Chicago: University of Chicago Press 1952
Gurr, M. I., Blades, J., Appleby, R. S.: Studies on seed-oil triglycerides—The composition of Crambe abyssinica triglycerides during seed maturation. Europ. J. Biochem. 29, 362–368 (1972)
Harwood, J. L., Sodja, A., Stumpf, P. K., Spurr, A. R.: On the origin of oil droplets in maturing castor bean seeds. Ricinus communis. Lipids 6, 851–854 (1971)
Jacobsen, J. V., Knox, R. B., Pyliotis, N. A.: The structure and composition of aleurone grains in the barley aleurone layer. Planta (Berl.) 101, 189–209 (1971)
Khoo, U., Wolf, M. J.: Origin and development of protein granules in maize endosperm. Amer. J. Bot. 57, 1042–1050 (1970)
Matile, Ph.: Aleurone vacuoles as lysosomes. Z. Pflanzenphysiol. 58, 365–368 (1968)
Matile, Ph., Moor, H.: Vacuolation, origin and development of the lyscsomal apparatus in root tip cells. Planta (Berl.) 80, 159–175 (1968)
Matile, Ph., Spichinger, J.: Lysosomal enzymes in spherosomes (oil droplets) of tobacco endosperm. Z. Pflanzenphysiol. 58, 277–280 (1968)
Öpik, H.: Development of the cotyledon cell structure in ripening Phaseolus vulgaris seeds, J. exp. Bot. 19, 64–76 (1968)
Perner, E.: The aleurone bodies in the radicle of air-dried seeds of Pisum sativum L. Planta (Berl.) 67, 324–343 (1965)
Poux, N.: Localisation des phosphates et de la phosphatase acide dans-des cellules des embryons de Blé (Tritium vulgare Vill.) lors de la germination. J. Microscopie 2, 557–563 (1963)
Poux, N.: Localisation de l'activité phosphatasique acide et des phosphates dans les grains d'aleurone. I. Grains d'aleurone renfermant à la fois globoides et crystalloides. J. Microscopie 4, 771–782 (1965)
Rest, J. A., Vaughan, J. G.: The development of protein and oil bodies in the seed of Sinapis alba L. Planta (Berl.) 105, 245–262 (1972)
Reynolds, E. S.: The use of lead eitrate at high pH as an electron opaque stain in electron microscopy. J. Cell Biol. 17, 208–212 (1963)
Schwarzenbach, A. M.: Observations on spherosomal membranes. Cytobiologie 4, 145–147 (1971)
Sorokin, H. P.: Spherosomes and the reserve fat in plant cells. Amer. J. Bot. 54, 1008–1016 (1967)
Sorokin, H. P., Sorokin, S.: Spherosomes of Campanula persicifolia L. Protoplasma (Wien) 62, 216–236 (1966)
Spurr, A. R.: A low viscosity epoxy resin embedding medium for electron microscopy. J. Ultrastruct. Res. 26, 31–43 (1969)
Vaughan, J. G.: Structure and utilisation of oil seeds. London: Chapman and Hill Ltd. 1970
Walek-Czernecka, A.: Mise en évidence de la phosphatase acide (monophosphoesterase II) dans les spherosomes des cellules épidermiques des écailles bulbaires d'Allium cepa. Acta Soc. Bot. Pol. 31, 539–543 (1962)
Walek-Czernecka, A.: Histochemical demonstration of some hydrolytic enzymes in the spherosomes of plant cells. Acta. Soc. Bot. Pol. 34, 573–588 (1965)
Yatsu, L. Y., Jacks, T. J.: Sphorosome membranes. Plant Physiol. 49, 937–947 (1972)
Yatsu, L. Y., Jacks, T. J., Hensarling, T. P.: Isolation of spherosomes (oleosomes) from onion, cabbage and cotton seed tissue. Plant Physiol. 48, 675–682 (1971)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Smith, C.G. The ultrastructural development of spherosomes and oil bodies in the developing embyro of Crambe abyssinica . Planta 119, 125–142 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00390886
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00390886