Development of the Suberized Lamella in the Mestome Sheath of Wheat Leaves

Abstract

The suberized lamella in the cell walls of the mestome sheath of wheat leaves developed asynchronously. The lamella formed first in the cells which were adjacent to the protophloem sieve tubes and formed last in the cells that abutted on the tracheary elements. In the latter case, the suberized lamella formed first in the outer tangential and radial walls and last in the inner tangential wall adjacent to the tracheary element. Eventually, the suberization was completed opposite the tracheary elements and the cell walls developed tertiary thickenings in all mestome sheath cells. Cytoplasmic structures that were clearly involved in suberin synthesis and the development of tertiary thickenings could not be identified.