Structural, hystochemical and cytochemical characteristics of the stigma and style in Passiflora edulis f. flavicarpa (Passifloraceae)

Abstract

Studies were carried out on anatomic aspects of the stigma and style of yellow passionfruit. The stigmatic style consisted of papillae, many layers of sub-epidermal cells and a central transmitting tissue. The stigma was of dry, unbranched, multicellular multiseriate papillate type and the cells were highly vacuolated with walls that were relatively thin consisting of compactly arranged fibrils. The style was solid with a central core of transmitting tissue that had intercellular spaces containing a matrix that included polysaccharidic and lipidic substances. During development, cells of the transmitting tissue were arranged compactly while the mature pistil showed cells with a little more loosely arranged intercellular spaces. Both the mature stigma and style contained a peripheral cytoplasmic layer showing a cytoplasmic profile with a prominent nucleus containing a nucleolus, evenly distributed mitochondria, extensive RER, ribosomes and amylochloroplasts.