Plant Diversity ›› 2010, Vol. 32 ›› Issue (4): 303-314.DOI: 10.3724/SP.J.1143.2010.10035

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An Ultrastructural Study of the Spermatogenesis of the Fern Pteris fauriei (Pteridaceae)

 CAO  Jian-Guo, DAI  Xiao-Fei, WANG  Quan-Chi   

  1. College of Life and Environment Sciences, Shanghai Normal University, Shanghai 200234, China
  • Received:2010-02-05 Online:2010-08-25 Published:2010-04-06

Abstract:

The ultrastructural research reveals that the spermatogenesis of the fern Pteris fauriei undergoes the de novo occurrence of the motile organelles, including the blepharoplast, multilayered structure and flagella, the formation of the coiled mitochondrion and nuclear shaping, and finally forms a spiral spermatozoid, which resemble other homosporous ferns described. Some new phenomenon or details during spermatid differentiation in present study including: Spermatids show polar differentiation in the early stage, the nucleus lies in the proximal end (the end of cell plate formation in mitosis), and the blepharoplast, mitochondria and plastids mainly located in the distal end. Abundant microtubules extend from the blepharoplast and plenty of radial mitochondria surround the blepharoplast. The differentiation of the basal bodies undergoes 3 stages, ie. procentriole, centriole and basal body. Their internal structures show different patterns, which are the tubular pattern, cartwheel pattern, and stellate pattern respectively. The amorphous material in the blepharoplast is considered to be the microtubule organizer, from which the multilayered structure, the accessory microtubular ribbon and flagella are differentiated. Abundant membranous structures are produced in the course of spermatid differentiation, which may be used as envelope materials in nuclear shaping. This study reveals some details during spermatogenesis of the fern Pteris fauriei, which contributes to understand the mechanism of spermatogenesis.

Key words: Fern, Pteris fauriei, Spermatogenesis, Ultrastructure

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