A REVIEW OF THE OCCURRENCE OF MONOPLASTIDIC MEIOSIS IN LIVERWORTS

Abstract

  The sporocytes in all species of mosses and hornworts have been known to contain a single plastid, and the monoplastidic condition of sporocytes has been considered an important diagnostic character separating mosses and hornworts from liverworts. However, recent studies have shown the occurrence of monoplastidic sporocytes in some liverworts. In this paper, we summarize the result of recent investigations on monoplastidic cells of lower land plants and discuss the occasional occurrence of monoplastidic meiosis in liverworts.