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Syncytia in Utricularia: Origin and Structure

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Syncytia: Origin, Structure, and Functions

Part of the book series: Results and Problems in Cell Differentiation ((RESULTS,volume 71))

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Abstract

In animals and plants, multinucleate cells (syncytia and coenocytes) are essential in ontogeny and reproduction. Fuso-morphogenesis is the formation of multinucleated syncytia by cell–cell fusion, but coenocytes are formed as a result of mitosis without cytokinesis. However, in plants, coenocytes are more widespread than true syncytia. Except for articulated laticifers, most plant syncytia have a trophic function. Here, we summarize the results of histological, histochemical, and ultrastructural analyses of syncytia in the Utricularia species from the Lentibulariaceae family. Utricularia syncytia, known only from a few species, are heterokaryotic because the syncytium possesses nuclei from two different sources: cells of maternal sporophytic nutritive tissue (placenta) and endosperm haustorium. Thus, syncytium contains both maternal and paternal genetic material. In species from section Utricularia, syncytia are highly active structures (with hypertrophied nuclei, cell wall ingrowths, and extensive cytoskeleton) that exist only during embryo development. They serve as an example of evolutionary unique trophic structures in the plant kingdom.

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Acknowledgments

The chapter is dedicated to the 90th anniversary of Department of Plant Cytology and Embryology (Institute of Botany, Faculty of Biology, Jagiellonian University in Kraków). We would like to cordially thank Professor Małgorzata Kloc for invitation to “Syncytia: Origin, Structure, and Functions” volume. This research was partially supported financially by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of Poland as part of the statutory activities of the Department of Plant Cytology and Embryology, Institute of Botany, Faculty of Biology, Jagiellonian University in Kraków (N18/DBS/000002), and the Department of Plant Cytology and Embryology, Faculty of Biology, University of Gdańsk (531-D030-D847-22).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Plant Cytology and Embryology, Institute of Botany, Faculty of Biology, Jagiellonian University in Kraków, Kraków, Poland

    Bartosz J. Płachno

  2. Department of Plant Cytology and Embryology, Faculty of Biology, University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland

    Małgorzata Kapusta

  3. Institute of Biology, Biotechnology and Environmental Protection, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Silesia in Katowice, Katowice, Poland

    Piotr Świątek

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  1. Bartosz J. Płachno
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  2. Małgorzata Kapusta
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  3. Piotr Świątek
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Correspondence to Bartosz J. Płachno .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Houston Methodist Research Institute and The Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX, USA

    Malgorzata Kloc

  2. Houston Methodist Research Institute and The Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX, USA

    Ahmed Uosef

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Płachno, B.J., Kapusta, M., Świątek, P. (2024). Syncytia in Utricularia: Origin and Structure. In: Kloc, M., Uosef, A. (eds) Syncytia: Origin, Structure, and Functions. Results and Problems in Cell Differentiation, vol 71. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-37936-9_8

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