Abstract
Aldrovanda vesiculosa captures prey by rapid movement of carnivorous leaves upon physical stimulation on sensory hairs. The captured prey are then digested and absorbed by the glands on the carnivorous leaves. In this study, in vitro propagated A.vesiculosa was used to study ultrastructure and function of the digestive glands.
Excised carnivorous leaves were immediately fixed by chemical fixation or rapid freezing and further processed for transmission electron microscopy. Well developed labyrinthine walls, ER and tannin vacuoles were observed in the digestive gland cells. In order to localize acid phosphatase, one of the digestive enzymes, cytochemistry using cerium was conducted. The enzyme activity was detected in cell walls and ER cisternae in the digestive gland cells on mature carnivorous leaves but not in the glands on immature carnivorous leaves. Ultrastructure of the glands and the enzyme activity were further examined in the carnivorous leaves during actual digestion of prey.
