Abstract
Development of a mucilage cavity and ultrastructure of mucilage-producing cells in taro corm (Colocasia esculenta cv. Ohno) were observed by electron microscope. Mucilage cavities were formed lysigenously from mucilage-producing cells and located within a certain distance around the vascular bundles. Degradation and melting of starch granules were found in the cells adjacent to the mucilage cavity. In the mucilage-producing cells adjacent to the cavity, fibrous materials were present in a space comprised of loose cell wall fibers on the cavity side. Although the ultrastructure of secretion through the plasmalemma and cell wall were not demonstrated, mucilage is thought to be secreted to the mucilage cavity after accumulation in a space of loose cell wall fibers.
