Fine Structural and Cytochemical Characteristics of Style and Stigma in Olive

SUMMARY

Confined to a narrow area, the transmitting cells have very thick walls and are without intercellular substance. They are synthetically active, rich in tannin, proteins and polysaccharides, and are well connected with adjacent tissues through vertically and horizontally oriented plasmodesmata. Occasionally autophagic vacuoles occur. The vacuoles of the stylar cortex are replete with granular material possibly tannin precursors. The epidermis has a thick cuticle. The stigmatic tissue is glandular whereas the papillae are non-glandular, rich in tannins and devoid of cuticle. They are covered with lipidic exudate transported from the stigmatic zone. Nuclear para- crystals, of proteinaceous nature, are abundant all over. The probable functions of various cell types and cell organelles are discussed.