Morphology, anatomy and ultrastructure of yarrow (Achillea millefolium L.) floral nectaries

Abstract

The studies focused on the morphological and anatomical features as well as those related to the ultrastructure of nectary cells <i>Achillea millefolium</i> Asteraceae family. The nectary presence was confirmed only in the disk flowers at the pistil style base. The micromorphology of nectaries was investigated in SEM, and structure was observed in a light and transmission electron microscopes. A number of layers composing a gland, the size and shape of epidermal and glandular cells were determined. The secretory cell ultrastructure was analyzed. The discoidal nectary gland observed from above had a pentagonal shape, 181.5 µm height and 299.4 µm diameter. It was built of the monolayer epidermis and 6 layers of the secretory cells on average. The glandular cells appeared to be bigger (27 µm) than the epidermal cells (22 µm), a cell shape in both tissues differed as well. The nectar secretion occured through the modified stomata. The stomata cells were at distinguishable greater size and raised above the surface of epidermis. The nectaries were supplied by the vascular bundles running from the pistil style up to the nectary base, not getting into the gland. In the cells of the nectary epidermis observed in TEM the big cell nuclei, numerous plastids, mitochondria and vacuoles with fibrous secretion deposits and vesicular structures were found. In the cells of the nectary secretory tissue there were dense cytoplasm, many plastids, mitochondria, Golgi bodies and the extensive network of the endoplasmic reticulum.