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 Plasmodesmata: The Secret Communication Tunnels of Plant Cells Table of contents what are plasmodesmata? what is  a desmotubule? plasmodesmata vs. desmotubule? Plasmodesmata (singular: plasmodesma) are microscopic channels that traverse the cell walls of plant cells and some algal cells, enabling transport and communication between them.  There are two forms of plasmodesmata: primary plasmodesmata, which are formed during cell division, and secondary plasmodesmata, which can form between mature cells. Similar structures called gap junctions and membrane nanotubes interconnect animal cells, and stomules form between plastids in plant cells. A typical plant cell may have between 1,000 and 100,000 plasmodesmata connecting it with adjacent cells.  Plasmodesmata Structure Plasmodesmata is a tube linking one cell to another. Surrounding the open space of the tube is a membrane, and running in the center is the desmotubule, which consists of tightly packed endoplasmic r...