The ultrastructure and cytochemistry of the egg apparatus of Brassica campestris

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Abstract
The egg apparatus of Brassica campestris L. cv. Candle (canola-rapeseed) is composed of an egg and two synergids juxtaposed at the extreme micropylar end of the megagametophyte with the egg cell displaced in a chalazal direction. The cell walls of the synergids and egg are uniformly PAS and PA–TCH–SP-positive, but contained β-linked glucans only in the micropylar region. The number and development of the cytoplasmic organelles suggested that the egg cell is relatively inactive metabolically while the synergid cells are active. The synergids contain large numbers of dictyosomes with PA–TCH–SP-positive vesicles at the maturing face. These vesicles appear to fuse with the plasma membrane in the region of the filiform apparatus. The filiform apparatuses of the synergids are micropylar finger-like projections that extend into the cytoplasm of the synergid. These are PAS and PA–TCH–SP-positive, fluoresce in uv light when stained with Calcofluor, and show a positive response for acidic polysaccharides when stained with alcian blue. After treatment with cellulase, fluorescence was not observed. The incipient degenerate synergid was intensely stained by cationic dyes 24–36 h after anthesis.