Wall protuberance formation and function in secreting salt glands of Tamarix aphylla L.

Abstract

Salt glands of Tamarix aphylla consist of three pairs of secretory cells arranged one upon the other. At the stage of secretion, the upper and middle pair of secretory cells develop in their walls an internal system of anastomosed rods, the protuberances. In the formation of the wall protuberances, Golgi vesicles and microtubules appear to participate. The stage of salt secretion is also characterized by the presence of numerous mitochondria and microvacuoles. Microvacuoles contain the secreted solution and accumulate in the region of the wall protuberances. The interaction between microvacuoles and wall protuberances as well as the genesis of wall protuberances constitute new findings on the subject.