Abstract
The tapetum surrounds the developing sporogenous tissue, and therefore is suggested
to have an important role during sporogenesis. In pteridophytes details about tapetum
development and function during sporangium development are poorly known. The current
article analyses the leptosporangiate development of the pteridophyte Cyrtomium falcatum in terms of functional compartmentalization related to tapetum function. Morphology,
development and localization of different compounds during sporangium development
are studied. During C. falcatum leptosporangiate development phases of initiation, division, differentiation, and
maturation are identified. Functional compartments are distinguished by the presence
of a callose culture sac during the division and differentiation phase, and a callose
spore sac during the differentiation and maturation phase.
Key words
Pteridophyte -
Cyrtomium falcatum
- leptosporangiate development - sporangium compartmentalization - tapetum function
