A developmental study of the epidermis of young roots ofZea mays L.

Summary In the apical meristems of main and young lateral roots of corn the uniseriate epidermis is clearly continuous with the most distal cell tier of the quiescent centre. These cells are characterized by the presence on their outer periclinal walls of material which forms the thin root cap junction layer over the apical pole and which thickens appreciably over the flanks of the meristem to form a distinctive extracellular deposit on the young epidermal cells. This material is polysaccharide in nature as indicated by strong periodic acid Schiff's positivity but its autofluorescence also suggests the presence of phenolic compounds.During their development the epidermal cells undergo marked shape change from periclinally flattened, polygonal at the root pole, through columnar on the meristem flank to tabular in the root hair zone. The mucigel thins markedly as cells become tabular but initiation of a root hair is characterized by deposition of polysaccharide on the inside of the periclinal wall where the hair will develop.