Establishment, Structure and Morphology of the Tuber of Balanophora

During germination of the ‘seed’ of Balanophora,endosperm cells at the radicular pole grow out as tubular structuresand anchor the ‘seed’ to the host rootlet. The radiculartier of cells of the embryo elongate as primary haustorial tubesand establish contact with the host root vasculature. A secondaryhaustorium arises from a meristem adjoining the primary haustorium.The remainder of the embryo contributes to the tuber proper. Host parenchyma in the immediate vicinity of the primary haustoriumreverts to meristematic activity. Some of the derivatives matureas perforate tracheary cells. The remainder, retaining meristematicactivity, squeeze themselves between secondary haustorial cellsand together initiate a composite conducting strand, which repeatedlydichotomizes as the tuber grows. The conducting strand of Balanophora is looked upon as the equivalentof combined adventitious root system of parasite and host. Theremaining part of the tuber is equivalent to the shoot. Balanophora, tuber, morphology, host-parasite relations, parasite