Axial canal
axial canal (noun,ascus term, pl. axial canals) – a thin bottleneck protrusion penetrating from the ocular chamber into the apical plug, apically blocked by the axial mass and often lined by ascus pendants. In ostropalean asci, spores are released through the axial canal, when the axial mass breaks apart forming a pore. In cross-section the axial canal may be cylindrical or appear stellate if it is festooned by pendants. Ring-like or net-like structures surrounding the axial canal have been described as anneau apicale because of chitinoid or amyloid reactions observed in the light microscope. If these structures become more elaborate and net- or basket-like, the term apical nasse has also been used. These observations led some researchers to proclaim an archetypical ascus that was supposedly basal to the evolutionary development of all asci, i. e., the archaeascus. Unfortunately, the light microscope observations do not match well with ultrastructural examinations and may be the results of artefacts caused by examination of aged herbarium material. This is:part of ascus.
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