Ultrastructure of the Peritrich Ciliate Ambiphrya ameiuri and Its Attachment to the Gills of the Catfish Ictalurus punctatus1

Ambiphrya ameiuri is an ectocommensal peritrich that attaches to the gills of warm-water fishes and filters bacteria from the water. The ultrastructure of this protozoon, its attachment to the fish gills, and its effect on the gill tissue were investigated by scanning and transmission electron microscopy. The peritrich attached to the gills by fibers extending from the scopula. A microtubular array, apparently a barren kinetosome, was present in each lobular projection, but no scopular cilia were observed. At low densities Ambiphrya had no apparent harmful effects on the fish; however, at high densities respiration may be impeded. Ultrastructural studies indicate that this organism receives no nourishment from the host tissue.     

Leaf Anatomy, Emphasizing Unusual 'Concertina' Mesophyll Cells, of Two East African Legumes (Caesalpinieae, Caesalpinioideae, Leguminosae)

Cordeauxia edulis (Somalia and Ethiopia), andStuhlmannia moavii(Tanzania, Kenya and Madagascar) are evergreen shrubs or smalltrees of dry areas. They have similar leaf anatomy as revealedby resin sectioning and scanning electron microscopy. The cuticleis extremely thick and all vascular bundles lack bundle sheathextensions. The most unusual feature is the mesophyll, threeto seven layers consisting entirely of cylindrical palisadecells with lateral walls capable of changing vertical lengthby folding in a concertina-like manner. The matching outwardfolds of two adjacent cells always remain attached by meansof a row of wall thickenings (‘pegs’). The pegscan elongate, especially so between the widely separated mesophyllcells that occupy the substomatal chamber area. The unattachedflexible inward wall folds enable these ‘concertina’cells to shorten or lengthen vertically without disrupting cellinterconnections in the interior of each relatively long-livedleaf as it periodically loses and gains water. Concertina cellsmay be an anatomical adaptation allowing these leaves to remainevergreen and survive extended periods of drought and yet tostore water quickly when it becomes available. Leguminosae; Caesalpinioideae; Cordeauxia ; Stuhlmannia ; ‘concertina’ mesophyll cells; desert adaptation; hollow glandular trichomes; leaf anatomy; wall thickenings     

Root Cap Inhibitor Formation in Isolated Root Caps of Zea mays

Root caps were isolated and cultured aseptically on variousdefined media. Under appropriate culture conditions plus suitableillumination a substance able to produce a positive geotropicresponse (i.e. a downward bending of roots) was formed in isolatedroot caps. The presence of this substance, or root cap inhibitor,was assessed by substituting cultured caps in place of capsof dark-grown roots. Normally these roots if kept in continuousdarkness will not respond to gravity (i.e. no bending). Optimalroot cap inhibitor production occurs on a relatively simplemedium, lacking sucrose, but supplemented with 10^–9 MIAA. Protein synthesis is necessary for inhibitor productionand/or expression, whereas DNA synthesis is not.