Ultrastructure of the Developing Aleurone Cells of Wheat Grain

Abstract

The developing aleurone layer cells of the wheat kernel have been investigated by electron microscopy and the results compared with those of light microscopy. Two weeks after flowering vacuoles appear in the cells and deposits accumulate in these until maturity when the cells are filled 'with the resulting "vacuolar units" 2-3p. in diameter, corresponding to the aleurone grains of light microscopy. The wheat aleurone grain consists of a bounding membrane (of vacuole origin) enclosing a matrix in which are embedded spherical deposits. Some of these deposits are translucent and others opaque to electrons after potassium permanganate and osmium tetroxide fixation. At all stages examined the cytoplasm of aleurone cells contained large numbers of small unidentified bodies with irregular outline and dense contents. At first they are dispersed, but towards maturity are organized as a monolayer over the surface of each aleurone grain and the inner surface of the cell walls. The apparent specificity of these structures to aleurone cells is discussed in relation to future chemical and physiological studies of the tissue.