Abstract
The sporophyte–gametophyte interface in cultured Lycopodium appressum gametophytes consists of a sporophytic foot embedded in gametophyte tissue. Foot cells and contiguous gametophytic cells develop extensive wall ingrowths, making them transfer cells. Transfer cells in the foot of young sporophytes and in adjacent gametophyte cells have elongated, narrow wall ingrowths forming a labrynthine wall–membrane apparatus, numerous mitochondria, and plastids with variable amounts of starch. Transfer cells in older interfaces have thickened wall ingrowths, few mitochondria, plastids with numerous plastoglobuli and little starch, and a large central vacuole. Plasmodesmata do not develop between cells of sporophyte and gametophyte generations and these are, therefore, isolated symplastically during all stages of sporophyte development. Key words: Lycopodium, foot, haustorium, transfer cells, ultrastructure.
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