Consists of dictyosomes & vesicles

Displays polarity in cisternal structure

Relationship of dictyosome to Golgi apparatus

The plant Golgi apparatus consists of an array of dictyosomes, two of which are shown here from a secretory cell of poplar (Populus sp.) leaf gland. Dictyosomes consist of stacks of (usually) 5-7 membrane cisternae which exhibit polarity. The polarity is generally obvious inasmuch as the thickness and contents of the cisternae change from one side of the stack (D_C) to the other (D_T).

Dictyosomes represent functional units of a Golgi apparatus, so that all dictyosomes in a given cell that have similar functionality represent a single Golgi system. Thus, there may be one or more Golgi systems per cell.

At the cis-face (or regeneration pole, D_C) the cisternae are typically wider and more empty-looking, and at the trans-face (or secretory pole, D_T) they are narrower and darker. In plant cells, there is no preferential orientation of the cis- and trans-faces relative to the adjacent ER cisterna, as is the case in animal cells where the cis-face is turned towards the nearest ER element. Dictyosomes are involved in the production of secretory vesicles which bud off from the trans face cisternae.