[Fine structure in the extrafloral nectary of Vicia faba L].
In the extrafloral nectary of the broad bean there is evidence of two fundamental types of cells: one with dense hyaloplasm, well developed ergastoplasm and golgi apparatus, all features of glandular cells, and another with opposite features. The cells of the head of the secretory hairs and those of the subjacent epidermis which are not prolonged with such a hair are of the first type. The epidermal cells prolonged with a hair and the pedicellar cell of this hair are of the second type. Moreover, the companion cells of the subjacent conducting bundle look like cells of the first type, especially those of the head of the secretory hairs owing to their numerous wall protuberances. Cells of the second type are presumably involved in transit processes between phloem and trichome, and cells of the first type in excretory processes.
Laboratoire de Biologie Végétale, Faculté des Sciences de Tunis, Tunis, Tunisie.
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