Light and transmission electron microscopy of English oak ectomycorrhizal short roots

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Abstract
The incorporation of caffeine in standard transmission electron microscope fixation procedures has allowed good preservation and embedment of ectomycorrhizal short roots of English oak (Quercus robur L.). In the mantle the most conspicuous structures are cystidia which radiate outwards from the surface. These conically shaped cells have knobs at their tips and thickened cell walls. The cystidia and other outer mantle cells contain many cytoplasmic constituents, whereas the inner mantle cells are nearly devoid of cytoplasm. The mantle cells are held together by an intercellular slime network. The Hartig net cells are filled with cytoplasm and contain numerous lipid droplets. Typical dolipore septa separate the cells; however, these cells have irregularly branched shapes. The host root tissue appears little altered by the presence of the fungal symbiont. However, the root cap consists of only a few cell layers. The apical meristem is functional as evidenced by the presence of newly divided cells and microtubules lining enlarging cells.