PHLOEM STRUCTURE IN THE CARBONIFEROUS FERN PSARONIUS (MARATTIALES)

Phloem anatomy in stems of Psaronius is described from coal ball specimens collected at the Berryville, IL and Lewis Creek, KY localities. Phloem completely surrounds the C-shaped xylem segments, but is more extensively developed on the abaxial side of the trace. The phloem zone consists of a central band of large diameter (approximately 90–120 μm) sieve elements surrounded by a mixed zone of smaller sieve elements and phloem parenchyma. Phloem is separated from the xylem by a parenchymatous xylem sheath. On the abaxial side of the trace, a discontinuous arc of very small diameter cells (7.8 μm) is present between the xylem sheath and the metaxylem. These cells corrrespond in position and size to protophloem cells in living marattialeans. Metaphloem sieve elements exhibit discrete, circular-oval sieve areas on their side and end walls, some of which show evidence of sieve pores. Phloem structure in Psaronius is compared with that known for living members of the Marattiales.     

THE PHLOEM OF ETAPTERIS LECLERCQII AND BOTRYOPTERIS TRIDENTATA

The phloem of Etapteris leclercqii and Botryopteris tridentata petioles is described from Lower Pennsylvanian coal balls. Petioles of B. tridentata are characterized in transverse section by an omega-shaped xylem trace, a phloem zone which extends from 2-10 cells in width, and 2-parted cortex. Etapteris leclercqii petioles exhibit a 4–9 cell-wide phloem zone surrounding the central clepsydroid xylem mass, and a 3-parted cortex. In both taxa a 1–2 cell layer parenchyma sheath separates the xylem from the extra-xylary tissues. The phloem of both species consists of sieve elements that average about 20 μm in diam by 200 μm in length in Botryopteris, and 100 μm in length in Etapteris, with horizontal-slightly oblique end walls. In transmitted light, the radial walls of the sieve elements form an irregular reticulate pattern enclosing elliptical lighter areas. With the scanning electron microscope, these areas appear as horizontal-slightly oblique furrows on the cell wall, with many small indentations lining the furrows. These indentations, because of their regular occurrence and size (from a few fractions of a micron up to 1.0 μm in diam), are interpreted as sieve pores, and the elliptical areas that enclose them as sieve areas. The phloem of E. leclercqii and B. tridentata is compared with that described for other fossil genera and with that of extant ferns.     

PHLOEM ANATOMY IN STAUROPTERIS BISERIATA FROM THE PENNSYLVANIAN OF NORTH AMERICA

Phloem anatomy in the coenopterid fern Stauropteris biseriata is detailed from Lower-Middle Pennsylvanian coal ball specimens from eastern Kentucky. Axes exhibit a cruciate-shaped xylem trace in transverse section. Phloem tissue completely surrounds the xylem, but is more extensively developed in the embayments between the xylem arms. Phloem is composed of elongate conducting elements with a few scattered parenchyma cells. Large and small sieve cells are present, with larger ones occurring in the embayments within the primary plane of symmetry of the axes. Large elements are approximately twice the diameter of the smaller sieve elements. Oval sieve areas and pores have been observed on lateral and oblique end walls of both large and small elements. The structure and composition of Stauropteris phloem is discussed in relationship to the available information on phloem anatomy in other fossil cryptogams.     

Secondary phloem anatomy of Cycadeoidea (Bennettitales)

Secondary phloem anatomy of several species of Cycadeoidea is described from trunks in the Wieland Collection, Peabody Museum of Natural History. The trunks were collected from the Lakota Formation, Lower Cretaceous, Black Hills of South Dakota. Secondary phloem is extensively developed and consists of alternating, tangential bands of fibers and sieve elements, with rare phloem parenchyma. Uniseriate rays, 2-22 cells high, occur between every one to three files of the axial system. Fibers are long, more than 1200 μm, approximately 26.6-34.2 μm in diameter, and have slit-like apertures on the lateral walls. Sieve elements range from 16-25 μm in diameter and are up to 500 μm long. Elliptical sieve areas appear on both end and radial walls and measure 10 μm across; minute spots, which may represent sieve pores, are present within the sieve areas. Secondary phloem of North American Cycadeoidea is similar in organization (alternating tangential bands) and cell types (sieve cells, fibers, axial parenchyma) to that known in other extant and fossil cycadophytes and some seed ferns. The unusual pattern of cell types and thickness of secondary phloem is discussed in the context of plant habit, phloem efficiency, and potential phylogenetic importance.     

Wood Anatomy and the Development of Interxylary Phloem of Ipomoea hederifolia Linn. (Convolvulaceae)

In Ipomoea hederifolia Linn., stems increase in thickness by forming successive rings of cambia. With the increase in stem diameter, the first ring of cambium also gives rise to thin-walled parenchymatous islands along with thick-walled xylem derivatives to its inner side. The size of these islands increases (both radially and tangentially) gradually with the increase in stem diameter. In pencil-thick stems, that is, before the differentiation of a second ring of cambium, some of the parenchyma cells within these islands differentiate into interxylary phloem. Although all successive cambia forms secondary phloem continuously, simultaneous development of interxylary phloem was observed in the innermost successive ring of xylem. In the mature stems, thick-walled parenchyma cells formed at the beginning of secondary growth underwent dedifferentiation and led to the formation of phloem derivatives. Structurally, sieve tube elements showed both simple sieve plates on transverse to slightly oblique end walls and compound sieve plates on the oblique end walls with poorly developed lateral sieve areas. Isolated or groups of two to three sieve elements were noticed in the rays of secondary phloem. They possessed simple sieve plates with distinct companion cells at their corners. The length of these elements was more or less similar to that of ray parenchyma cells but their diameter was slightly less. Similarly, in the secondary xylem, perforated ray cells were noticed in the innermost xylem ring. They were larger than the adjacent ray cells and possessed oval to circular simple perforation plates. The structures of interxylary phloem, perforated ray cells, and ray sieve elements are described in detail.     

Faba bean forisomes can function in defence against generalist aphids

Phloem sieve elements have shut‐off mechanisms that prevent loss of nutrient‐rich phloem sap when the phloem is damaged. Some phloem proteins such as the proteins that form forisomes in legume sieve elements are one such mechanism and in response to damage, they instantly form occlusions that stop the flow of sap. It has long been hypothesized that one function of phloem proteins is defence against phloem sap‐feeding insects such as aphids. This study provides the first experimental evidence that aphid feeding can induce phloem protein occlusion and that the aphid‐induced occlusions inhibit phloem sap ingestion. The great majority of phloem penetrations in Vicia faba by the generalist aphids Myzus persicae and Macrosiphum euphorbiae triggered forisome occlusion and the aphids eventually withdrew their stylets without ingesting phloem sap. This contrasts starkly with a previous study on the legume‐specialist aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum, where penetration of faba bean sieve elements did not trigger forisome occlusion and the aphids readily ingested phloem sap. Next, forisome occlusion was demonstrated to be the cause of failed phloem ingestion attempts by M. persicae: when occlusion was inhibited by the calcium channel blocker lanthanum, M. persicae readily ingested faba bean phloem sap.     

ULTRASTRUCTURE OF THE NACREOUS LEPTOIDS (SIEVE ELEMENTS) IN THE POLYTRICHACEOUS MOSS ATRICHUM UNDULATUM

The physiological phloem equivalents, leptoids, of the polytrichaceous moss Atrichum undulatum appear to be similar to the nacreous sieve elements that occur in many higher plants. These leptoids are elongated cells with nacreous thickenings on their radial and tangential walls. Their oblique end walls, which lack such thickenings, are traversed by numerous pores through which the plasmalemma, endoplasmic reticulum, and cytoplasm are continuous between adjacent leptoids of a longitudinal file. These end walls closely resemble the simple sieve areas of the sieve elements found in Polypodium vulgare. The leptoid sieve pores have a median expanded area and frequently are occluded by small amorphous protein plugs at each end. Also, callose was observed as electron-luscent areas both on the faces of the end walls and as a thin cylinder surrounding the lateral area of each pore. Amorphous and granular cytoplasmic contents of the leptoids appear to be morphologically similar to the slime (P-protein) found in the sieve-tube elements of many angiosperms. Differentiating leptoids are characterized by the formation of numerous membrane-bound protein bodies in close association with polysomes and endoplasmic reticulum. As the leptoid matures, the contents of the protein bodies become dispersed in the cytoplasm. Ultrastructurally and ontogenetically the leptoids in the gametophores of A. undulatum appear almost identical to the sieve elements of P. vulgare and therefore should be considered sieve elements rather than phloem-like equivalents.     

Le phloème deSelaginella willdenowii: histophysiologie comparée

Metaphloem sieve elements ofSelaginella willdenowii are elongated cells with slightly oblique or transverse end walls. Pores are seen on both lateral and end walls, although they are more numerous on the latter. Parenchyma cells exhibiting strong enzyme activities (acid phosphatase, non specific esterase, succinate dehydrogenase, cytochrome oxidase, peroxidase) are present between sieve elements and tracheids in each vascular bundle. A functional association thus appears to exist between these parenchyma cells and the conducting elements.—The occurrence of transverse to slightly oblique end walls in sieve elements seems to characterize the ligulate Lycopsids (as opposed to the aligulateLycopodium where sieve elements possess slanting, very oblique, end walls).

     

Sieve elements rapidly develop ‘nacreous walls’ following injury − a common wounding response?

Thick glistening cell walls occur in sieve tubes of all major land plant taxa. Historically, these ‘nacreous walls’ have been considered a diagnostic feature of sieve elements; they represent a conundrum, though, in the context of the widely accepted pressure–flow theory as they severely constrict sieve tubes. We employed the cucurbit Gerrardanthus macrorhizus as a model to study nacreous walls in sieve elements by standard and in situ confocal microscopy and electron microscopy, focusing on changes in functional sieve tubes that occur when prepared for microscopic observation. Over 90% of sieve elements in tissue sections processed for microscopy by standard methods exhibit nacreous walls. Sieve elements in whole, live plants that were actively transporting as shown by phloem‐mobile tracers, lacked nacreous walls and exhibited open lumina of circular cross‐sections instead, an appropriate structure for Münch‐type mass flow of the cell contents. Puncturing of transporting sieve elements with micropipettes triggered the rapid (<1 min) development of nacreous walls that occluded the cell lumen almost completely. We conclude that nacreous walls are preparation artefacts rather than structural features of transporting sieve elements. Nacreous walls in land plants resemble the reversibly swellable walls found in various algae, suggesting that they may function in turgor buffering, the amelioration of osmotic stress, wounding‐induced sieve tube occlusion, and possibly local defence responses of the phloem.     

COMPARATIVE LEAF STRUCTURE OF SEVERAL SPECIES OF HOMOSPOROUS LEPTOSPORANGIATE FERNS

The structure of the mature leaves of 13 species from 9 families of homosporous leptosporangiate ferns was examined by light and electron microscopy. In 11 species (Adiantum pedatum L., Athyrium angustum Roth., Cyathea dregei Sm., Lygodium palmatum Sw., Mohria caffrorum (L.) Desv., Oleandra distenta Kuntae, Pellaea calomelanos (Sw.) Link, Pityrogramma calomelanos (L.) Link var. austro-americana (Domn.) Farw., Trichomanes melanotrichum Schlechtend., Vittaria guineensis Desv., and Woodwardia orientalis Sw.) the lamina veins are collateral; in two (Phlebodium aureum and Platycerium bifurcatum), bicollateral as well as collateral veins are present. The vascular bundles in the midribs of C. dregei and those in the petioles and midribs of Phlebodium and Platycerium are concentric. All of the vascular bundles in the homosporous leptosporangiate ferns studied are delimited by a tightly arranged cylinder of endodermal cells with Casparian strips. Within the veins without parenchymatic xylem sheaths, some sieve elements commonly abut tracheary elements with hydrolyzed primary walls. The majority of vascular parenchyma cells contact both sieve elements and tracheary elements, although some parenchyma cells are associated with only one type of conducting cell. Transfer cells (parenchyma cells with wall ingrowths) occur in the veins of 6 species examined. Most of the vascular parenchyma cells, however, have no distinctive structural characteristics. The sieve elements of the homosporous leptosporangiate ferns are very similar structurally and each consists of a plasmalemma, a parietal, anastomosing network of smooth endoplasmic reticulum (ER), and variable numbers of refractive spherules, plastids and mitochondria. The sieve elements of L. palmatum also contain plasmalemma tubules. The parenchymatic cells of the leaf (mesophyll, endodermal and vascular parenchyma cells) are united by desmotubule-containing plasmodesmata. The sieve elements are connected to each other by sieve pores and to parenchymatic cells by pore-plasmodesma connections. The sieve-area pores contain variable amounts of membranous material, apparently ER membranes, but do not occlude them. These membranes commonly are found in continuity with the parietal ER of the lumen. Based upon the relative frequencies of cytoplasmic connections between cell types, the photosynthates may move from the mesophyll to the site of phloem loading via somewhat different pathways in different species of homosporous leptosporangiate ferns.     

A Study of Stelar Ultrastructure in the Heterosporous Water Fern Marsilea quadrifolia L

Sieve tube elements occur in the rhizomes and petioles of Marsileaquadrifolia. These are either thick walled with compound sieveplates in oblique end walls or thin walled with simple sieveplates in transverse end walls. Vessels are restricted to themetaxylem in the roots where the phloem contains sieve cellsonly. The sieve pores are invariably callose lined and as inother pteridophytes, excepting the Lycopsida, refractive spherulesare ubiquitous in the sieve elements of Marsilea. The luminaof the protoxylem tracheary elements in the rhizomes and petiolesare occluded by tyloses but probably remain functional in theroots. Pericycle cells backing on to the root protoxylem armspossess wall ingrowths. Transfer cells are however absent fromthe vascular tissue of the rhizomes and leaves. It is suggestedthat their presence in the root pericycle is related to theretrieval of ions from the xylem sap which may be particularlycritical in water plants. The incidence of transfer cells incryptogams appears to be far more sporadic than in angiosperms.The root endodermis of Marsilea possesses a casparian stripand abundant vacuolar tannin deposits. Plasmalemmasomes arenumerous adjacent to the pericycle transfer cells. vascular ultrastructure, Marsilea quadrifolia L, transfer cells, sieve tube elements, tyloses     

THE CAMBIUM AND SEASONAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE PHLOEM IN ROBINIA PSEUDOACACIA

The cambium in black locust consists of several layers of cells at all times. Cambial reactivation (division) is preceded by a decrease in density of cambial cell protoplasts and cell wall thickening but not by cell enlargement. During the resumption of cambial activity, periclinal divisions occur throughout the cambial zone. Early divisions contribute largely to the phloem side. The period of greatest cambial activity coincides with early wood formation. Judged by numerous collections made during two seasons (October, 1960-October, 1962) the seasonal cycle of phloem development is as follows. Phloem differentiation begins in early April, ends in late September. The amount of phloem produced is quite variable (range: 1-10 bands of sieve elements per year). Cessation of function begins with the accumulation of definitive callose in the first-formed sieve elements and spreads to those more recently formed. By late November all but the last-formed sieve elements are collapsed. All sieve elements are collapsed by mid-winter and before the resumption of new phloem production in spring. Phloem differentiation precedes xylem differentiation by at least 1 week, and apparently functional sieve elements are present 3 weeks before new functional vessel elements. Xylem and phloem production ends simultaneously in most trees.     

杨柳科(Salicaceae)7种植物次生韧皮部的比较研究

本文研究和比较了杨柳科2属7种植物次生韧皮部解剖结构。结果表明:(1)杨属和柳属植物在次生初皮部解剖上有某些共同特征:次生韧皮部具有明显分层现象;韧皮纤维和含晶细胞与筛管分子、伴胞和韧皮薄壁组织细胞是切向带相间排列;筛管分子均为复筛板,端壁倾斜平均含有7-8个筛域。(2)两属植物在射线和晶体类型上有明显区别:柳属植物次生韧皮部无石细胞;杨属植物不具功能韧皮部中含有石细胞。(3)两属植物均有一些较为原始的韧皮部解剖特征。     

A study of the source of virus in the Pholem exudate appearing on leaves of Amscinckia infected with the beet curly top virus

Abstract Leaves of Amsinckia douglasiana discharging phloem exudate after infection with the beet curly top virus (BCTV) were studied with the electron microscope. Infected tissue differed from the noninfected in having much hyperplastic phloem characterized by abnormally high proportion of sieve elements, scarcity of companion cells, degenerating parenchyma cells, and some unusually large intercellular spaces. Many spaces contained amorphous debris. Particles resembling BCTV were discernible within the debris. Such particles were encountered also in the debris trapped between stomatal guard cells. Since the phloem exudate excreted from leaves of BCTV-infected plants contains virus particles, and since the virus is found extremely rarely in sieve elements, we suggest (1) that most of BCTV particles apparently released into intercellular spaces are derived from degenerating parenchyma cells in which the virus had multiplied; (2) that the exudate is derived from sieve elements of the hyper-plastic phloem in which the normal functional control by companion cells is lacking; (3) that the exudate leaks from the nontransporting sieve elements through cell walls into intercellular spaces and carries the virus to the outside. Initially, stomata may serve as exits for the infectious exudate, but subsequently ruptures in the epidermis are involved.     

Minor vein structure and sugar transport in Arabidopsis thaliana

Leaf and minor vein structure were studied in Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh. to gain insight into the mechanism(s) of phloem loading. Vein density (length of veins per unit leaf area) is extremely low. Almost all veins are intimately associated with the mesophyll and are probably involved in loading. In transverse sections of veins there are, on average, two companion cells for each sieve element. Phloem parenchyma cells appear to be specialized for delivery of photoassimilate from the bundle sheath to sieve element-companion cell complexes: they make numerous contacts with the bundle sheath and with companion cells and they have transfer cell wall ingrowths where they are in contact with sieve elements. Plasmodesmatal frequencies are high at interfaces involving phloem parenchyma cells. The plasmodesmata between phloem parenchyma cells and companion cells are structurally distinct in that there are several branches on the phloem parenchyma cell side of the wall and only one branch on the companion cell side. Most of the translocated sugar in A. thaliana is sucrose, but raffinose is also transported. Based on structural evidence, the most likely route of sucrose transport is from bundle sheath to phloem parenchyma cells through plasmodesmata, followed by efflux into the apoplasm across wall ingrowths and carrier-mediated uptake into the sieve element-companion cell complex. Received: 5 October 1999 / Accepted: 20 November 1999     

STRUCTURALLY PRESERVED PHLOEM ZONE TISSUE IN RHYNIA

Optical microscopic studies of longitudinal sections of permineralized Rhynia axes from the lower (?) Devonian Rhynie Chert of Scotland have revealed the occurrence of numerous pores, 3–8 μm in diam, distributed along lateral cell walls in the zone of tissue commonly regarded as phloem. In face view, these pores appear to be composed of circular subunits less than 1 μm in diam. A conductive function for the complex tissue of the Rhynia phloem zone seems evidenced by the occurrence of these pores and by the thin-walled, elongate, tapered nature of the component cells.     

Dissimilar phloem loading in leaves with symplasmic or apoplasmic minor-vein configurations

Plant species were selected on the basis of abundant or no symplasmic continuity between sieveelement-companion-cell (SE-CC) complexes and adjacent cells in the minor veins. Symplasmic continuity and discontinuity are denoted, respectively, as symplasmic and apoplasmic minor-vein configurations. Discs of predarkened leaves from which the lower epidermis had been removed, were exposed to ¹⁴CO₂. After 2 h of subsequent incubation, phloem loading in control discs and discs treated with p-chloromercuribenzenesulfonic acid (PCMBS) was recorded by autoradiography. Phloem loading was strongly suppressed by PCMBS in minor veins with symplasmically isolated SE-CC complexes (Centaurea, Impatiens, Ligularia, Pelargonium, Pisum, Symphytum). No significant inhibition of phloem loading by PCMBS was observed in minor veins containing sieve elements with abundant symplasmic connections (Epilobium, Fuchsia, Hydrangea, Oenothera, Origanum, Stachys). Phloem loading in minor veins with both types of SE-CC complex (Acanthus) had apoplasmic features. The results provide strong evidence for coincidence between the mode of phloem loading and the minor-vein configuration. The widespread occurrence of a symplasmic mode of phloem loading is postulated.Abbreviations PCMBS p-chloromercuribenzenesulfonic acid - SE-CC complex sieve-element-companion-cell complex     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Amborella trichopoda</Emphasis>, plasmodesmata,and the evolution of phloem loading

Phloem loading is the process by which photoassimilates synthesized in the mesophyll cells of leaves enter the sieve elements and companion cells of minor veins in preparation for long distance transport to sink organs. Three loading strategies have been described: active loading from the apoplast, passive loading via the symplast, and passive symplastic transfer followed by polymer trapping of raffinose and stachyose. We studied phloem loading in Amborella trichopoda, a premontane shrub that may be sister to all other flowering plants. The minor veins of A. trichopoda contain intermediary cells, indicative of the polymer trap mechanism, forming an arc on the abaxial side and subtending a cluster of ordinary companion cells in the interior of the veins. Intermediary cells are linked to bundle sheath cells by highly abundant plasmodesmata whereas ordinary companion cells have few plasmodesmata, characteristic of phloem that loads from the apoplast. Intermediary cells, ordinary companion cells, and sieve elements form symplastically connected complexes. Leaves provided with ¹⁴CO₂ translocate radiolabeled sucrose, raffinose, and stachyose. Therefore, structural and physiological evidence suggests that both apoplastic and polymer trapping mechanisms of phloem loading operate in A. trichopoda. The evolution of phloem loading strategies is complex and may be difficult to resolve.     

Periodicity of Cambium Activity and Seasonal Changes of the Secondary Phloem in Two Species of Dalbergia

Periodicity of cambium activity, seasonal changes of the secondary phloem and longevity of sieve tube in main trunk of Dalbergia balansae Prain and in the twig of D. szemaoensis Prain were observed. The results are as follows: 1. All cambia fall under the category of storied type. 2. In D. balansae cambial activity begins in late April and ends in early November. Phloem differentiation is completed by early November. Xylem differentiation ceases in December. In D. szemaoensis cambial activity continues from mid-April to late October. Phloem and xylem differentiation ceases by late November. 3. The width of functional phloem zone is maximal (400—600 μm) in autumn and minimal (200—370 μm) in February to April. In overwintering, functional sieve tube elements contain P-protein, and the pores of sieve plate are open. It could be one of the reasons that these two species are promising host trees of Kerria yunnanensis during winter. 4. The longevity of sieve tubes in D. balansae and D. szemaoensis last 8—12 months and 9—11 months respectively. 5. During dormancy of cambium, the parenchyma cells of the secondary phloem contain large quantities of starch grains and calcium oxalate crystals, which decrease as cambium becomes active and remain little or even non visualized in summer.     

Sieve element occlusion provides resistance against Aphis gossypii in TGR-1551 melons

Feeding behavior and plant response to feeding were studied for the aphid Aphis gossypii Glover on susceptible and resistant melons(cv.Iroquois and TGR-1551,respectively).Average phloem phase bout duration on TGR-1551 was<7% of the duration on Iroquois.Sixty-seven percent of aphids on TGR-1551 never produced a phloem phase that attained ingestion(EPG waveform E2)in contrast to only 7% of aphids on Iroquois.Average bout duration of waveform E2(scored as zero if phloem phase did not attain E2)on TGR-1551 was<3% of the duration on Iroquois.Conversely,average bout duration of EPG waveform El(sieve element salivation)was 2.8 times greater on TGR-1551 than on Iroquois.In a second experiment,liquid nitrogen was used to rapidly cryofix leaves and aphids within a few minutes after the aphids penetrated a sieve element.Phloem near the penetration site was then examined by confocal laser scanning microscopy.Ninety-six percent of penetrated sieve elements were occluded by protein in TGR-1551 in contrast to only 28% in Iroquois.Usually in TGR-1551,occlusion was also observed in nearby nonpenetrated sieve elements.Next,a calcium channel blocker,trivalent lanthanum,was used to prevent phloem occlusion in TGR-1551,and A.gossypii feeding behavior and the plants phloem response were compared between lanthanum-treated and control TGR-1551.Lanthanum treatment eliminated the sieve element protein occlusion response and the aphids readily ingested phloem sap from treated plants.This study provides strong evidence that phloem occlusion is a mechanism for resistance against A.gossypii in TGR-1551.