Cytokinesis in microspore mother cells of Impatiens sultani

Summary Cytokinesis in Impatiens sultani microspore mother cells is simultaneous. It starts with the formation of small ingrowths of the surrounding callosic wall. Next, an incomplete cell plate is formed by fusion of small dictyosome vesicles. The cell plate consists of a network of anastomosing tubules and sacs. Aggregates of fusing vesicles are associated with bundles of microtubules, which are oriented perpendicular to the plane of the future cell walls. In the sacculate parts of the cell plate, some callose is deposited, while the associated microtubules disappear. The cell walls ultimately develop by enlargement of the previously formed wall ingrowths, which successively incorporate the elements of the cell plate. The enlargement and thickening of the walls is not accompanied by a further fusion and incorporation of dictyosome vesicles.