THE FLORAL AND EXTRA-FLORAL NECTARIES OF PASSIFLORA. I. THE FLORAL NECTARY

Floral nectary development and nectar secretion in three species of Passiflora were investigated with light and electron microscopy. The nectary ring results from the activity of an intercalary meristem. Increased starch deposition in the amyloplasts of the secretory cells parallels maturation of the nectary phloem. Large membrane-bound protein bodies are observed consistently in phloem parenchyma cells, but their function is presently unknown. The stored starch serves as the main source of nectar sugars at anthesis. Plastid envelope integrity is maintained during starch degradation, and there is no evidence of participation of endoplasmic reticulum or Golgi in the secretion of pre-nectar. It is concluded that in these starchy nectaries granulocrine secretion, commonly reported for floral nectaries, does not occur.