Root apical organization in Arabidopsis thaliana .1. Root cap and protoderm

We investigated the development of the root cap and protoderm in Arabidopsis thaliana root tips. A. thaliana roots have closed apical organization with the peripheral root cap, columella root cap and protoderm developing from the dermatogen/calyptrogen histogen. The columella root cap arises from columella initials. The initials for the peripheral root cap and protoderm are arranged in a collar and the initiation event for these cells occurs in a sequential pattern that is coordinated with the columella initials. The resulting root cap appears as a series of interconnected spiraling cones. The protoderm, in three-dimensions, is a cylinder composed of cell files made up of packets of cells. The number of cell files within the protoderm cylinder increases as the root ages from one to two weeks. The coordinated division sequence of the dermatogen/calyptrogen and the increase in the number of protoderm cell files are both features of post-embryonic development within the primary root meristem.