The Degeneration and Reappearance of Mitochondria in the Egg Cells of a Plant

Details are given of the elimination of mitochondria which occurs during the first 1 to 2 hours of the life of the egg of the fern Pteridium aquilinum (L.) Kuhn. During this phase the only mitochondria present are swollen and appear degenerate, but subsequently the cytoplasm of the egg becomes filled with large mitochondria containing numerous villi. Accompanying the appearance of these mitochondria, many, if not all of which have a peculiar umbo-like form, is the production by the nucleus of conspicuous and complex evaginations. The umbo-mitochondria are believed to be new, and a mechanism is suggested by which they may be generated from the complex evaginations of the nucleus.