Cytohistological Distribution of Some Metabolites in the Shoot Apex of Raphanus sativus L.

Abstract

Histochemical distribution patterns of RNA, DNA, total proteins and insoluble polysaccharides were followed from the embryonal to the flowering stages of the shoot apex in Raphanus sativus Linn. Cells in the tunica and corpus in the plumular apex stained uniformly for all the above metabolites. Staining for RNA and total proteins in the vegetative apices revealed a well marked cytohistological zonation superimposed on tunica-corpus organization. The axial tunica and CMZ in the vegetative apex and the axial mantle and core in the reproductive apices showed lighter stained cells for nuclear as well as cytoplasmic RNA and total proteins. The shoot apex at all the developmental stages stained uniformly densely in all the zones for both DNA and insoluble polysaccharides with deeper stained nuclei and cell walls respectively.