Connections between dictyosomes,ER and GERL in cotyledons of mung bean (Vigna radiata L.)

Summary The connections and structural inter-relations of dictyosomes and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) in cotyledons of germinating mung beans were studied using thick (0.3 m) sections of aldehyde fixed, zinc iodide-osmium tetroxide (ZIO) impregnated tissue. The sections were examined by conventional (100 kV), rather than high voltage, transmission electron microscopy.Continuity of cisternal ER with tubular ER was confirmed and a direct connection of tubular ER totrans dictyosome cisternae was observed as were GERL networks associated withtrans dictyosome cisternae.Dictyosomes also gave rise to an extensive system of very fine tubules (10–20 nm diam) which have not been described previously in plant tissue. These tubules, which originated at thetrans dictyosome face, extended throughout the cytoplasm and were found connected to cisternal ER and tubular ER.The implications of these observations are discussed with regard to present ideas concerning endomembrane flow and protein sorting by the Golgi apparatus.