Time-lapse video illustrating two modes of cytokinesis in the Arabidopsis endosperm. Images acquired over a 6 hour time period have been condensed into a 20 second sequence.

sequence 1

During the eighth mitotic round that marks the end of the syncytial phase, nuclei divide in the already cellularised micropylar endosperm (MCE). This is rapidly followed by the formation of a cell plate (one example indicated by red arrowheads) that expands and joins the walls of the parent cell.

sequence 2

The nuclei of the peripheral endosperm (PEN), which is still syncytial, divide. Again, this is followed by formation of cell plates (red dots), first between separating sister pairs and then immediately between non-sister nuclei.

sequence 3


The last image of the sequence was acquired at a slower rate than the rest and along the optical plane slightly above the previous ones, providing more detail and a better contrast and showing that cellularisation has now proceeded throughout the PEN.