植物角质膜及其渗透性与抗旱性研究进展

角质膜覆盖于陆生植物的地上部分,是植物与外部环境之间的第一道屏障,保护植物免遭各种生物和非生物胁迫。本文就植物角质膜的结构、成分、生物合成的途径及机理、渗透性及温度、湿度、活性剂对角质膜渗透性的影响,角质膜与植物抗旱性关系的研究进展做系统综述,并对植物角质膜研究中存在的问题进行了探讨。     

植物角质膜研究进展

植物的角质膜是植物与外界环境的交界面, 有利于植物减少蒸腾、抵抗紫外伤害和防止病虫害等。植物与外部环境相互作用的过程中, 其角质膜会构建自身的防御系统, 如通过自身结构、成分的改变及产生次生代谢产物来减轻外界不利环境因子的胁迫。因此, 植物角质膜与环境之间的密切关系对于植物生长有着重要意义。该文综述了植物角质膜的结构、成分、形成、功能及其与次生代谢和环境的关系, 同时对研究中存在的问题进行了讨论并展望了相关领域的研究前景。     

3种芦荟属植物叶的表皮扫描电镜观察及芦荟素含量的测定

以库拉索芦荟、木立芦荟和皂质芦荟为材料,用扫描电镜观察其叶表皮气孔和角质膜的结构,用高效液相色谱法(HPLC)测定了3种芦荟属植物叶中芦荟素的含量。扫描电镜观察结果表明,3种芦荟叶表皮都覆盖有厚的角质膜,气孔下陷,表现出典型的旱生植物特征。但角质膜的纹饰和厚度在不同芦荟间有显着差异。木立芦荟角质膜表面呈瘤状突起,角质膜厚度为5～6μm,库拉索芦荟和皂质芦荟的角质膜表面较平,库拉索芦荟的角质膜厚度为3～4μm,皂质芦荟的角质膜厚度为8～10μm。高效液相色谱法(HPLC)测定结果表明,木立芦荟叶含芦荟素最高,库拉索芦荟叶含量较低,而皂质芦荟叶含量最低。此外,本文还初步探讨了芦荟属植物叶表皮结构与芦荟素含量的关系。     

中国桑寄生科植物叶表皮微形态

通过扫描电镜对中国桑寄生科桑寄生亚科8属18种和槲寄生亚科1属2种植物成熟叶的上、下叶表皮内表面和下表皮外表面进行了研究。内面观发现桑寄生科植物叶上、下表皮形状为多边形,垂周壁式样平直或稍弓形,常具有角质增厚,平周壁常覆盖厚角质或颗粒状、丝状角质增厚;气孔存在于上下表皮,通常下表皮较多,气孔的形状,特别是保卫细胞的形态在亚科间、属间或种间都具有一定的差异,气孔器类型为平列型或单圈型。下表皮表面观察了的角质膜和蜡质纹饰、气孔的形状,外部气孔缘及外部气孔缘内缘的特征。这些特征在亚科或属级水平上较为稳定,有的也表现出种间差异,有一定的分类价值。从气孔形态和外部气孔周围角质膜来看,两亚科显示出明显的不同:桑寄生亚科上、下表皮均具有内部气孔缘,而槲寄生亚科没有此结构;桑寄生亚科外部气孔周围角质膜增厚成环状,其上具增厚的条纹,而槲寄生亚科外部气孔周围角质膜增厚成脊状,不具条纹。这些特征支持槲寄生亚科作为独立1个科来处理。     

植物叶表面的附着物

植物叶表面上的附着物实际上是植物叶表面的分泌物。很多物质可以从原生质体中分离并沉积下来,这实际上是一种分泌过程,这些沉积物质就是分泌物。叶表皮细胞外壁上附着的角质膜、蜡质以及各种盐的     

五种海桑属红树植物叶片的结构及其生态适应

对海桑属五种红树植物的叶片进行解剖学的观察和研究。结果表明:海桑属红树植物的叶片上、下均有栅栏组织,栅栏组织与叶片厚的比值在0.3375～0.4349之间,属等面叶;表皮的角质膜厚1.88～7.63μm;输导组织发达;多数种类的栅栏组织中有分泌腔,而海绵组织中有单宁异细胞分布。说明了海桑属红树植物叶片的结构具有很强的耐旱及抗腐蚀能力。     

植物寄生线虫侧带的制作方法

植物寄生线虫体形较小,长度一般不超过1—2毫米,宽度约为0.03—0.05毫米。线虫体外皆具有一层非细胞结构的弹性角质膜,其上常有纵纹和环纹,以及其他形状的花纹。在线虫两侧常有数条由虫体前端直达后端的纵纹组成的侧带(Lateral field)。这些角质膜上的花纹     

毛乌素沙地10种重要沙生植物叶的形态结构与环境的关系

10种重要沙生植物叶器官的比较解剖学研究表明其普遍特征是;叶片的表面积与体积比值小;叶表具表皮毛和厚的角质膜;气孔下陷、具孔下室;叶肉中栅栏组织发达;叶各类组织中普遍有含晶细胞和粘液细胞,具有发达的机械组织和输导组织。个别植物叶退化而由同比枝行使光合作用;部分植物具皮下层和异细胞层,以及具异常结构,以上特征是适应沙漠干旱环境的结果,反映出植物形态结构与环境的统一性。     

节肢动物的角质膜

节肢动物为无脊椎动物中种类多,数量大,分布广的一个类群,其种数超过100万,占整个动物界种类总数的3/4以上。节肢动物是首批适应了陆地环境,真正的陆栖动物,同时也是无脊椎动物中唯一可以飞翔的种类。节肢动物整个体表覆盖着一层发达的角质膜(cuticule),又称外骨骼(exoskeleton),角质膜还衬在气管、消化道的前肠及后肠等管腔的内壁上。角质膜起着支持作用,又是肌肉附着的地方。节肢动物的角质膜可以保护其内脏器官,防止外界有害物质侵入体内,更重要的是能抵御陆地的干燥环境,阻止体内水分的过量蒸发流失。节肢动物具有角质膜,因而才有可能由水生环境向陆地环境发展,最终适应了陆地的干燥环境,而生存繁衍下来,形成了地球上最繁盛的一个类群。     

贺兰山15种旱生灌木叶表皮扫描电镜观察

对15种天然分布在宁夏贺兰山荒漠地区的旱生灌木叶表皮进行扫描电镜观察发现,这些植物叶的上、下表皮细胞角质膜加厚,且分布有大量的表皮毛,有单细胞毛和多细胞毛;气孔器被表皮毛覆盖,均为内陷气孔。这些形态结构是植物适应干旱环境的典型特征。     

The fine structure and deposition of the larval cuticle of the sheep blowfly (Lucilia Cuprina)

The cuticle of Lucilia is composed of an untanned endocuticle and a complex epicuticle of four layers, superficial layer, outer epicuticle, cuticulin and dense layer. The outer epicuticle and attached epicuticular filaments are resistant to acid hydrolysis. During deposition of the cuticle of each larval instar, the cuticulin and dense layers are formed first, followed by the outer epicuticle, which appears to be laid down by secretions from the epidermis passing through the cuticulin via epicuticular filaments. The outer epicuticle is found in the position normally occupied by the wax layer of other insect species.     

植物角质层对非生物逆境胁迫响应研究进展

角质层,包括角质和蜡质,是主要由脂肪酸及其衍生物构成的覆盖在植物的外表面的高度疏水层,在植物生长发育过程中起到非常重要的保护屏障作用。除了在极端温度、干旱、高盐等多种非生物逆境胁迫下起到保护作用外,还能够保护植物内部组织免受细菌、真菌病原体的侵染。现就植物角质层的组成、合成途径以及与植物抗逆性,特别是与抗旱能力的关系方面的最新研究进展进行了综述。     

Origin and development of stomatal microanatomy in two species ofEucalyptus

Summary Development of the stomata ofEucalyptus orbifolia (in which they are relatively superficial) andE. incrassata (in which they are deeply sunken) is described from light microscopy of thin sections of resin-embedded material. The envelope of the guard mother cell is retained intact while in the daughter cells (guard cells) the inner and outer thickenings are formed. The mother cell envelope may even remain discrete and intact during early stages of formation of the separation spaces, precursors of the future stomatal pore, between the thickenings. Remnants of the guard mother cell wall may be retained as parts of at least the inner stomatal ledges. Likewise, remnants of the wall which divides the mother cell persist on the maturing guard cells.Sudan III-positive materials, probably cutin, are removed from the cuticle over the mother cell soon after it is formed. The cuticle above the guard cell is finally perforated by enzymic attack forming, inE. incrassata, a large cavity outside the developing stoma into which the outer stomatal ledges grow as extensions of the upper guard cell walls.The termostiole is suggested for the aperture in the cuticle. The flanges of cuticle seen in section to bound it are termedostiolar ledges. The ostiolar ledges are to be distinguished from the outer stomatal ledges, which develop from the upper thickenings of the guard cell initials. The distinction is clear inE. incrassata (and other species with deeply sunken stomata) but not in mesophytic plants or species with superficial stomata such asE. orbifolia in which the outer stomatal ledges are fused with the cuticle.Growth of the outer stomatal ledges inE. incrassata involves transport of wall materials through an annular space, the equivalent of an ectocythode.The relevance of the observations to stomatal development in other genera is discussed.     

ULTRASTRUCTURE OF THE CUTICLE OF OHELO (VACCINIUM RETICULATUM)

When viewed by electron microscopy of thin sections, the inner two-thirds of the petiolar cuticle of Vaccinium reticulatum appears dense and is penetrated by a channel-like reticulum which emanates from the primary cell wall. The outer one-third of the cuticle stains lightly and is homogeneous. This arrangement is compared with the ultrastructure of cuticle previously reported for other plant species.     

The biophysical design of plant cuticles: an overview

The outer surfaces of epidermal cell walls are impregnated with an extracellular matrix called the cuticle. This composite matrix provides several functions at the interface level that enable plants to thrive in different habitats and withstand adverse environmental conditions. The lipid polymer cutin, which is the main constituent of the plant cuticle, has some unique biophysical properties resulting from its composition and structure. This review summarizes the progress made towards understanding the biophysical significance of this biopolymer with special focus on its structural, thermal, biomechanical, and hydric properties and relationships. The physiological relevance of such biophysical properties is discussed in light of existing knowledge on the plant cuticle.     

An overview on plant cuticle biomechanics

Plant biomechanics combines the principles of physics, chemistry and engineering to answer questions about plant growth, development and interaction with the environment. The epidermal-growth-control theory, postulated in 1867 and verified in 2007, states that epidermal cells determine the rate of organ elongation since they are under tension, while inner tissues are under compression. The lipid cuticle layer is deposited on the surface of outer epidermal cell walls and modifies the chemical and mechanical nature of these cell walls. Thus, the plant cuticle plays a key role in plant interaction with the environment and in controlling organ expansion. Rheological analyses indicate that the cuticle is a mostly viscoelastic and strain-hardening material that stiffens the comparatively more elastic epidermal cell walls. Cuticle stiffness can be attributed to polysaccharides and flavonoids present in the cuticle whereas a cutin matrix is mainly responsible for its extensibility. Environmental conditions such as temperature and relative humidity have a plasticizing effect on the mechanical properties of cuticle since they lower cuticle stiffness and strength.The external appearance of agricultural commodities, especially fruits, is of great economic value. Mechanical properties of the cuticle can have a positive or negative effect on disorders like fruit cracking, fungal pathogen penetration and pest infestation. Cuticle rheology has significant variability within a species and thus can be subjected to selection in order to breed cultivars resistant to pests, infestation and disorders.     

Embryonic cuticle establishment: The great (apoplastic) divide

The plant cuticle, a dynamic interface between plants and their environment, is formed by the secretion of hydrophobic lipids and waxes into the outer wall of aerial epidermal cells. Cuticle formation is such a ubiquitous feature of epidermal cells, and is of such fundamental importance for plant survival, that identifying and understanding specific developmental roles for this structure has been a major challenge for plant scientists. In recent work, we have tried to understand the functional relationships between a signaling feedback loop required for epidermal cell specification in developing plant embryos, and a seed specific signaling cascade, involving components localized both in the embryo and in the embryo surrounding endosperm, and necessary for embryo cuticle function. Analysis of the strongly synergistic genetic relationships between these 2 independent pathways, combined with mathematical simulations of the behavior of the signaling feedback loop, have allowed us to propose an important, and hitherto unsuspected, role for the embryonic cuticle as an apoplastic diffusion barrier, necessary for preventing the excessive diffusion of developmentally important signaling molecules away from developing embryo into surrounding tissues.     

Use of Arabidopsis eceriferum Mutants to Explore Plant Cuticle Biosynthesis

The plant cuticle is a waxy outer covering on plants that has a primary role in water conservation, but is also an important barrier against the entry of pathogenic microorganisms. The cuticle is made up of a tough crosslinked polymer called "cutin" and a protective wax layer that seals the plant surface. The waxy layer of the cuticle is obvious on many plants, appearing as a shiny film on the ivy leaf or as a dusty outer covering on the surface of a grape or a cabbage leaf thanks to light scattering crystals present in the wax. Because the cuticle is an essential adaptation of plants to a terrestrial environment, understanding the genes involved in plant cuticle formation has applications in both agriculture and forestry. Today, we''ll show the analysis of plant cuticle mutants identified by forward and reverse genetics approaches. Download video file.^{(163M, mov)}     

Moulting in nematodes: The formation of the adult cuticle during the final moult of Nippostrongylus brasiliensis

The process of moulting and the formation of the new cuticle during the final moult of the nematode Nippostrongylus brasiliensis have been described. After separation of the hypodermis from the old cuticle, the new cuticle is secreted by the hypodermis. The first layers to be formed are the outer trilaminate membrane and the fibre layers. The struts of the cuticle separate out from the fibrillar and granular components of the outer cuticle. There is no reabsorption of the old cuticle.     

A new method for rapid visualization of defects in leaf cuticle reveals five intrinsic patterns of surface defects in Arabidopsis

The epidermis of higher plants generates the cuticle layer that covers the outer surface of each plant. The cuticle plays a crucial role in plant development, and some mutants with defective cuticle exhibit morphological abnormalities, such as the fusion of organs. The way in which the cuticle forms and its contribution to morphogenesis are poorly understood. Conventional detection of the cuticle by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) requires laborious procedures, which include fixation, staining with osmium, and preparation of ultra-thin sections. It is also difficult to survey entire surfaces of expanded leaves because of the limited size of specimens that can be examined. Thus, TEM is unsuitable for large-scale screening for mutants with defective cuticle. We describe here a rapid and inexpensive method, designated the toluidine-blue (TB) test, for detection of cuticular defects in whole leaves. We demonstrated the validity of the TB test using mutants of Arabidopsis thaliana, including abnormal leaf shape1 (ale1), fiddlehead (fdh), and five eceriferum (cer) mutants, in which the structure and/or function of the cuticle is abnormal. Genetic screening for mutants using the TB test allowed us to identify seven loci. The cuticle-defective regions of leaves of the mutants revealed five intrinsic patterns of surface defects (classes I through V), suggesting that formation of functional cuticle on leaves involves various spatially regulated factors.