Fine structure of the primary root phloem of Pisum

Abstract

The morphogenesis of the sieve elements, companion cells, and phloem parenchyma in the region between 0.5 and 2.0 mm from the actively growing root apex of seedlings of Pisum sativum L. cv. Telephone is described. The overall developmental pattern is essentially similar to that already described for the secondary phloem of the young stem internode of the same species, although differences in the development of some organelles do exist between the two types of phloem. The development of the sieve element is traced from the earliest stages of cross wall formation up to the morphologically mature stages. Very few sieve elements reach morphological maturity in this region. The possibility that the functional translocatory sieve elements are those at earlier stages of development is discussed.