Pits, Intercellular Spaces, and Internal "Suberization" in the Apical Meristems of Ricinus communis and Other Plants

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Abstract
Apical meristems of Ricinus communis, Vicia faba, Sechium edule, and Zea mays were examined in relation to the development of pits, plasmodesmata, intercellular spaces, and the "suberin" pellicle which lines the latter. Pits are present and are distributed in a sievelike pattern in all meristematic cells in the shoot and root tips examined. During growth and differentiation this sievelike pattern of pits is retained on the end walls while in contrast pits on the side walls form a reticular or dendritic pattern. Plasmodesmata interconnect adjacent protoplasts of meristematic cells and are presumably retracted from cell-wall areas adjacent to developing intercellular spaces. Initial pit channels are obliterated by subsequent deposition of wall material. Intercellular spaces arise as minute gas pockets in apical meristems and unite to form a continuous 3-dimensional network lined with a "suberin" pellicle.