The sporophyte-gametophyte junction in five species of pleurocarpous mosses

We have studied the sporophyte-gametophyte junction at the post-meiotic sta ge in five pleurocarpous mosses: Isothecium myosuroides Brid., Leucodon can ariensis (Brid.) Schwaegr., Leptodon longisetus Mont., Neckera cephalonica Jur. & Unger, and Neckera intermedia Brid. In all five species the foot doe s not penetrates the leafy caulidium. The junction in all of them correspon ds to a "bryalean pattern", with transfer cells bot in the gametophyte and sporophyte. However, except in Neckera intermedia, there were several layer s of foot transfer cells, deviating from the typical 1:1 arrangement in thi s model. At this stage, the tissues of both foot and vaginula were degenera ting. Vaginular cells surrounding the foot became empty and thin-walled. Op portunistic microorganisms were often found. The five species differ with r espect to the number of layers of transfer cells and the degree of developm ent of foot hydroids.