Stereological Analysis of the Dermal System of Fruit of the Grape Vitis vinifera L.

Abstract

Changes in cell vdume and shape in different layers of the dermal system of the grape Vitis vinifera have been analysed in relation to position along the radius of the fruit and fruit shape. Fruit surface area was found to be a function of changes in both cell area and cell number, though cell number effects were predominant. Cell volume generally increased exponentially from the epidermis inwards, though no single function adequately described the pattern for all cultivars. Deviations from a continuous pattern of change of volume were compatible with the possible occurrence of polyploid periclinal chimeras or endoploids. These results suggest that differences in cellular structure were determined by mechanisms that were independent of potential stresses associated with differences in fruit size and shape.