Resin ducts of Pinus halepensis Mill.-Their structure, development and pattern of arrangement

Abstract

The primary resin ducts in the axis of plants of Pinus halepensis Mill, consist of two separate systems the pattern of which is correlated with the vascular systems of the organs in which they appear. These systems are: (1) ducts of the roots and the hypocotyl; (2) ducts of all the branches and juvenile leaves or scaleS. Both systems are produced by the apical meristemS. In the needles there is a third system of primary resin ducts situated in the mesophyll. These ducts are produced only to a small extent by the apical meristem of the needle and mainly by its intercalary meristem. In addition to these primary ducts of the needle, which form a separate system for each needle, at the base of the needle there may be ducts of secondary origin which are situated within the vein. These are continuous with secondary ducts of the brachyblast axis. The secondary ducts constitute one system in the secondary xylem and phloem of the roots, branches and needle bases. They are formed by the cambium. In the xylem there are vertical and radial ducts which together form co-planar radial networkS. Each radial duct starts from a vertical duct. The first location of the stimulus for the formation of the two types of ducts is discussed. In the phloem there are only radial ducts, continuous with the radial ducts of the xylem. The cavities of the radial phloem and xylem ducts are not continuous, as there are no intercellular spaces in the region of the cambium. The innermost vertical ducts of the secondary xylem form a kind of transitional type, in respect of their response to internal and external factors, between the primary resin ducts and the bulk of the secondary resin ducts.