ANNULATE LAMELLAE IN SPERMATOGENOUS CELLS OF LYCOPODIUM-OBSCURUM

The existence of annulate lamellae is detailed for the first time in the ultrastructure of a plant flagellated cell lineage. In early spermatogenous cells of Lycopodium obscurum, annulate lamellae are abundant and located adjacent to either the nucleus or plastid. Individual organelles consist of 1-11 parallel cisternae bearing tightly compacted pores that are similar in size and substructure to nuclear pores. In cross section, the pores measure 95-130 nm in diameter. Frequently, endoplasmic reticulum is continuous with the annulate lamellae cisternae. The existence of annulate lamellae in Lycopodium extends the known distribution of these organelles to rapidly proliferating spermatogenous tissue of seedless plants. Moreover, spatial associations between annulate lamellae and plastids are reported for the first time in any plant tissue.