Early Ontogeny of Vascular Cambium in the Seedling Roots of Acer saccharinum L.

은단풍(Acer saccharinum L.) 유식물의 뿌리에서 유관속 형성층의 초기발생

The origin of cambial initials from procambium was studied in the seedling root of Acer saccharinum. In transverse view, the first periclinal divisions of procambial cells occurred just outside of each early metaxylem and resulted in meristematic strips. As root development progressed, the division activities appeared subsequently outside of each late metaxylem and then in pericycle cells opposite the four protoxylem poles. Eventually, such meristematic strips were connected completely each other. Thus, a nearly rectangular shaped meristematic layer in outline was formed outside the xylem in a whole root transectioned. In tangential section, early procambium showed a homogeneous structure consisted of uniform short cells with transverse end walls. However, some of the procambial cells did elongate, whereas others divided transversely. The former become more elongate, tapered, and vacuolated. Finally, they differentiated into fusiform initials. Short cells consisting axial strands divided continuousely in transverse plane and became ray initials, while some short cells elongated and transformed into long cells. The early ontogeny of vascular cambium in Acer saccharinum root was interpreted to be established by a gradual process.