Cytometric data on epidermal cells of Sempervivum tectorum L. leaves at various growth levels
Barbetta, F.; Quario, R.C.; Russo, E.
Bollettino della Societa Italiana di Biologia Sperimentale 52(15): 1144-1150
1976
ISSN/ISBN: 0037-8771 PMID: 1024525 Document Number: 98562
Cellular and nuclear size with growth were examined in fragments of foliar epidermis, stained with hematoxylin. Microscopic cell outlines were viewed with a microprojector MN4, and were redrawn from this on Bristol board. Though cell volume was greatly increased with growth, there was no great change in the nucleus-cytoplasm ratio. The increase in nuclear dimensions with cell growth possibly depends more on the functional needs of the cell than on the quantity of DNA, which ought to be constant, in accordance with the law of quantitative constancy of DNA in all species at the same level of ploidy. This remains to be confirmed. The hypothesis that, in order for the epidermis to carry out its functions, it requires a certain amount of space or thickness was discussed.