OCTOPUS, a polarly localised membrane-associated protein, regulates phloem differentiation entry in Arabidopsis thaliana

Vascular development is embedded into the developmental context of plant organ differentiation and can be divided into the consecutive phases of vascular patterning and differentiation of specific vascular cell types (phloem and xylem). To date, only very few genetic determinants of phloem development are known. Here, we identify OCTOPUS (OPS) as a potentiator of phloem differentiation. OPS is a polarly localised membrane-associated protein that is initially expressed in provascular cells, and upon vascular cell type specification becomes restricted to the phloem cell lineage. OPS mutants display a reduction of cotyledon vascular pattern complexity and discontinuous phloem differentiation, whereas OPS overexpressers show accelerated progress of cotyledon vascular patterning and phloem differentiation. We propose that OPS participates in vascular differentiation by interpreting longitudinal signals that lead to the transformation of vascular initials into differentiating protophloem cells.     

PROCAMBIUM VS. CAMBIUM AND PROTOXYLEM VS. METAXYLEM IN POPULUS DELTOIDES SEEDLINGS

The concept of a procambium-cambium continuum was examined in Populus deltoides by following its development in serially sectioned bud and stem tissues. As in other species, the term cambium is used to refer to that part of the continuum associated with the formation of secondary vascular tissues; i.e., with secondary growth. However, that part of the continuum associated with the formation of primary vascular tissues is subdivided to facilitate interpretation of the consecutive stages of primary xylem differentiation. Thus, the procambium as envisioned by other authors is subdivided into procambium, initiating layer, and metacambium, all of which develop acropetally and in complete continuity. The procambium is derived from the residual meristem in the form of acropetally developing strands and traces. The initiating layer is represented by the first, tangentially separated, periclinal divisions that delineate the position of the prospective cambium. The metacambium is a later stage during which additional periclinally dividing cells unite the initiating layer into a tangentially continuous meristem within a trace bundle. After establishment of the initiating layer, the procambial trace is completely phloem dominated. Protoxylem differentiation begins in an originating center at the base of the leaf primordium and it progresses basipetally to form the protoxylem pole. Cells of the initiating layer do not contribute to the formation of either protoxylem or protophloem. However, those cells of the initiating layer directly opposite the protoxylem pole divide precociously and later differentiate to metaxylem, thus forming a radial file of protoxylem-metaxylem elements. Protoxylem elements of lateral traces are longitudinally continuous with the protoxylem of their parent traces, whereas those of a central trace are longitudinally continuous with the metaxylem of its parent trace. Metaxylem is formed later than protoxylem and it is derived from the metacambium. Metaxylem does not form a continuous system with protoxylem of the same trace because of the different temporal and spatial origins of the two kinds of xylem. Rather, metaxylem is longitudinally continuous with secondary xylem of older traces below. An attempt was made to determine the functional significance of the pattern of protoxylem and metaxylem differentiation in relation to primary and secondary plant development.     

毛青藤茎的发育解剖学研究

毛青藤茎顶端的原生分生组织由原套和原体组成,其行生细胞形成初生分生组织──原表皮、原形成层和基本分生组织。初生分生组织的衍生细胞分化形成茎的初生结构,包括表皮、皮层、维管束和髓。随着茎的继续发育,维管形成层开始活动,由束中形成层产生次生韧皮部和次生木质部分子,而束间形成层仅产生薄壁组织细胞形成宽的射线。在原生韧皮部筛管分化成熟的过程中,韧应部外方仍保留1—2层原形成层细胞,以后,它们分裂为多层纤维原始细胞,在次生结构形成时,这些细胞的细胞壁加厚,形成初生初皮纤维。茎始终未产生用皮。     

Three maize root-specific genes are not correctly expressed in regenerated caps in the absence of the quiescent center

The quiescent center is viewed as an architectural template in the root apical meristem of all angiosperm and gymnosperm root tips. In roots of Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh., the quiescent center inhibits differentiation of contacting initial cells and maintains the surrounding initial cells as stem cells. Here, the role of the quiescent center in the development of the maize (Zea mays L.) root cap has been further explored. Three maize root-specific genes were identified. Two of these were exclusively expressed in the root cap and one of them encoded a GDP-mannose-4,6-dehydratase. Most likely these two genes are structural, tissue-specific markers of the cap. The third gene, a putative glycine-rich cell wall protein, was expressed in the cap and in the root epidermis and, conceivably is a positional marker of the cap. Microsurgical and molecular data indicate that the quiescent center and cap initials may regulate the positional and structural expression of these genes in the cap and thereby control root cap development. Received: 22 September 1999 / Accepted: 9 November 1999     

High-resolution whole-mount imaging of three-dimensional tissue organization and gene expression enables the study of Phloem development and structure in Arabidopsis

Currently, examination of the cellular structure of plant organs and the gene expression therein largely relies on the production of tissue sections. Here, we present a staining technique that can be used to image entire plant organs using confocal laser scanning microscopy. This technique produces high-resolution images that allow three-dimensional reconstruction of the cellular organization of plant organs. Importantly, three-dimensional domains of gene expression can be analyzed with single-cell precision. We used this technique for a detailed examination of phloem cells in the wild type and mutants. We were also able to recognize phloem sieve elements and their differentiation state in any tissue type and visualize the structure of sieve plates. We show that in the altered phloem development mutant, a hybrid cell type with phloem and xylem characteristics develops from initially normally differentiated protophloem cells. The simplicity of sieve element data collection allows for the statistical analysis of structural parameters of sieve plates, essential for the calculation of phloem conductivity. Taken together, this technique significantly improves the speed and accuracy of the investigation of plant growth and development.     

DEVELOPMENTAL ANATOMY IN ROOTS OF IPOMOEA PURPUREA. II. INITIATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF SECONDARY ROOTS

In seedlings of Ipomoea purpurea secondary roots are initiated in the primary root pericycle opposite immature protoxylem. Cells derived from immature endodermis, pericycle, and incipient protoxylem and stelar parenchyma contribute to the primordium. The derivatives of the endodermis become a uniseriate covering over the tip and flanks of the primordium and emerged secondary root; the endodermal covering is sloughed off when the lateral root reaches 1–5 mm in length. A series of periclinal and anticlinal divisions in the pericycle and its derivatives gives rise to the main body of the secondary root. The initials for the vascular cylinder, cortex, and rootcap-epidermis complex are established very early during primordium enlargement. After emergence from the primary root, the cortical initials undergo significant structural modifications related to enlargement of the ground meristem and cortex, and the rootcapepidermal initials are partitioned into columellar initials and lateral rootcapepidermal initials. Procambium diameter increases by periclinal divisions in peripheral sectors. The mature vascular cylinder is comprised of several vascular patterns, ranging from diarch to pentarch, that are probably related ontogenetically. Cells derived from incipient protoxylem and stelar parenchyma cells of the primary root form the vascuar connection between primary and secondary roots.     

Initiation of primary vascular elements in the stamens and carpel of Triticum aestivum L.

The primary vascular elements originate in the procambia of the single carpel and three stamens of the floret independently and in isolation from the vascular system of the spikelet. The initiation of protophloem elements is earlier in the stamens than in the carpel. The median strand of the carpel differentiates before the two lateral strands. The protoxylem elements are initiated after the protophloem elements are welt differentiated.
The differentiation of both protophloem and protoxylem elements is bidirectional in the stamens and in the three strands of the carpel, whereas their differentiation is acropetal in the funicular strand of the carpel.     

DIFFERENTIATION AND CONTINUITY OF THE PHLOEM IN THE LEAF INTERCALARY MERISTEM OF LOLIUM PERENNE

Serial transverse sections of the stem tip and leaf bases of immature perennial ryegrass leaves were examined to assess the effect of the intercalary meristem on assimilate movement. The development of procambial strands in very young leaves was followed, and the subsequent differentiation of proto- and metaphloem examined in both lamina and sheath. In major bundles the first two or three series of protophloem cells differentiated acropetally into the leaf and they or their crushed remnants could be recognized at all levels. A further three or four series of protophloem cells differentiated basipetally, as did the protophloem of all minor bundles and the metaphloem. The basipetal differentiation of the bulk of the phloem combined with crushing of older cells resulted in acute constriction or even complete local blockage of the functional phloem in the active meristematic region. This constriction of the phloem would tend to divert assimilates into the dividing cells both from the stem below and from the mature upper portion of the leaf. No constriction was found at the base of a mature sheath.     

Expression of HtKNOT1, a class I KNOX gene, overlaps cell layers and development compartments of differentiating cells in stems and flowers of Helianthus tuberosus

In plant, post-embryonic development relies on the activities of indeterminate cell populations termed meristems, spatially clustered cell lineages, wherein a subset divides indeterminately. For correct growth, the plant must maintain a constant flow of cells through the meristem, where the input of dividing pluripotent cells offsets the output of differentiating cells. KNOTTED1-like homeobox (KNOX) genes are expressed in specific patterns in the plant meristems and play important roles in maintaining meristematic cell identity. We have analyzed the expression pattern of HtKNOT1, a class I KNOX gene of Helianthus tuberosus, in stems, inflorescence meristems, floral meristems and floral organs. HtKNOT1 is expressed in cambial cells, phloem cells and xylematic parenchyma within apical stem internodes, while in basal internodes HtKNOT1 expression was restricted to the presumptive initials and recently derived phloem cells. In the reproductive phase, HtKNOT1 mRNAs were detected in both the inflorescence and floral meristems as well within lateral organ primordia (i.e. floral bracts, petals, stamens and carpels). In more differentiated flowers, the expression of HtKNOT1 was restricted to developing ovules and pollen mother cells. HtKNOT1 may play a dual role being required to maintain the meristem initials as well as initiating differentiation and/or conferring new cell identity. In particular, it is possible that HtKNOT1 cooperates at floral level with additional factors that more specifically control floral organs and pollen development in H. tuberosus.     

Spatial relation between xylem and phloem in the stem of Hibiscus cannabinus L. (Malvaceae)

The distribution of the phloem in relation to the xylem was examined in the stem of Hibiscus cannabinus L. with reference to a report in the literature that this species has internal (intraxylary) phloem, a feature not previously observed in the Malvaceae. In the present study, the stem was found to have phloem only outside the xylem (external or extraxylary phloem). In the protophloem, the sieve tubes are obliterated while the internode elongates and the associated cells become fibres with thick secondary walls. Fibres occur in the secondary phloem also. As seen in transections of stems, the secondary xylem forms a continuous ring. The primary xylem extends in the form of arcs into the pith. The tracheary cells of the protoxylem become crushed or completely obliterated in elongating internodes. The associated parenchyma cells either retain thin walls or develop secondary thickenings.     

The Arabidopsis AtEPR1 extensin-like gene is specifically expressed in endosperm during seed germination

Screening of 10 000 Arabidopsis transgenic lines carrying a gene-trap (GUS) construct has been undertaken to identify markers of seed germination. One of these lines showed GUS activity restricted to the endosperm, at the micropylar end of the germinating seed. The genomic DNA flanking the T-DNA insert was cloned by walking PCR and the insertion was shown to be located 70 bp upstream of a 2285 bp open reading frame (AtEPR1) sharing strong similarities with extensins. The AtEPR1 open reading frame consists of 40 proline-rich repeats and is expressed in both wild-type and mutant lines. The expression of the AtEPR1 gene appears to be under positive control of gibberellic acid, but is not downregulated by abscisic acid during seed germination. No expression was detected in organs other than endosperm during seed germination. The putative role of AtEPR1 is discussed in the light of its specific expression in relation to seed germination.     

苦豆子营养器官的发育解剖学及组织化学研究

采用石蜡切片法对苦豆子(Sophora alopecuroides L.)根、茎、横走茎及叶的发育过程进行了研究,并利用组织化学的方法对生物碱在苦豆子各营养器官中的分布规律进行了测定.苦豆子根、茎及横走茎的初生生长与一般双子叶植物的发育规律一致,但在次生生长时,部分维管形成层细胞平周分裂只形成薄壁组织,从而将次生维管组织也分离成束.茎与横走茎的功能及生活环境不同,所以在结构上也存在一定的差异.叶是等面叶,上下表皮内都有栅栏组织的分布,其组织分化和发育过程与双子叶植物叶的发育规律一致.在茎、横走茎及叶主脉中,韧皮部的外侧都包围有纤维束,其来源都是原生韧皮部.应用硅钨酸、碘化铋钾及I-KI溶液进行沉淀反应,测定出生物总碱在苦豆子根、茎、横走茎及叶的薄壁组织细胞中均存在.     

Renal ontogeny in the rhesus monkey (Macaca mulatta) and directed differentiation of human embryonic stem cells towards kidney precursors

The development of the metanephric kidney was studied immunohistochemically across gestation in monkeys to identify markers of cell specification, and to aid in developing experimental paradigms for renal precursor differentiation from human embryonic stem cells (hESC). PAX2, an important kidney developmental marker, was expressed at the tips of the ureteric bud, in the surrounding condensing mesenchyme, and in the renal vesicle. Vimentin, a mesenchymal and renal marker, was strongly expressed in the metanephric blastema then found to be limited to the glomerulus and interstitial cells of the medulla and cortex. A model of gene expression based on human and nonhuman primate renal ontogeny was developed and incorporated into studies of hESC differentiation. Spontaneous hESC differentiation revealed markers of metanephric mesenchyme (OSR1, PAX2, SIX2, WT1) that increased over time, followed by upregulation of kidney precursor markers (EYA1, LIM1, CD24). Directed hESC differentiation was also evaluated with the addition of retinoic acid, Activin-A, and BMP-4 or BMP-7, and using different culture substrate conditions. Of the culture substrates studied, gelatin most closely recapitulated the anticipated directed developmental pattern of renal gene expression. No differences were found when BMP-4 and BMP-7 were compared with baseline conditions. PAX2 and Vimentin immunoreactivity in differentiating hESC was also similar to the renal precursor patterns reported for human fetal kidneys and findings described in rhesus monkeys. The results of these studies are as follows: (1) provide additional data to support that rhesus monkey kidney development parallels that of humans, and (2) provide a useful model for hESC directed differentiation towards renal precursors.     

INITIAL VASCULARIZATION OF THE VEGETATIVE SHOOT OF ABIES CONCOLOR

Parke , Robert V. (Colorado State U., Fort Collins.) Initial vascularization of the vegetative shoot, of Abies concolor. Amer. Jour. Bot. 50(5): 464–469. Illus. 1963.—In the dormant winter bud, the future vascular system of the shoot exists as a rather ill-defined system of procambial strands, which extends acropetally from the scale traces through a plate of thick-walled, deeply staining cells, the crown, and into the axis and the numerous foliar primordia making up the telescoped shoot. Each foliar primordium receives a single procambial strand or leaf trace. The procambial strands differentiate acropetally. No differentiated vascular tissue was observed in the dormant shoot. As the shoot elongates in the spring, vascular differentiation progresses at a rapid rate. In the leaf traces, protophloem differentiates acropetally. The protoxylem, which appears first in the axial region of the trace, differentiates acropetally into the foliar primordium and basipetally into the stem. The first-formed phloem elements are short-lived. They are nucleate and without sieve areas. In the protoxylem, the first-formed tracheids are mostly of the annular or spiral-thickened type.     

Influence of exogenous ethylene on cambial activity,xylogenesis and ray initiation in young shoots of Leucaena leucocephala (lam.) de Wit

The effect of exogenous ethephon on cambial activity, xylem production and ray population in young shoots of Leucaena leucocephala was investigated anatomically. The application of ethephon showed a diphasic effect on cambial activity and xylogenesis in a dose dependent manner. Lower concentration of ethephon enhanced cambial activity while high concentrations reduced cambial cell divisions and daughter-cell differentiation. High ethephon concentration also resulted in shorter vessel elements, thick walled fibers and phenolic accumulation in ray cells and vessel elements, whereas low concentration allowed elongation of fibers and vessel elements. The density of rays increased significantly with increase in ethylene concentration. The evaluation of longitudinal sections of cambial zone in ethephon treated plants showed high frequency of transformation of fusiform initials into ray initials through divisions and segmentation, resulting in high ray frequency in both xylem and phloem. The present study demonstrates that ethylene plays an important role in regulating secondary vascular tissue composition by reducing the population of fusiform initials in the cambium.     

The ontogeny of the vascular cambium inGinkgo biloba roots

Observation was made on early ontogeny of vascular cambium in the developing root ofGinkgo biloba L. After completion of root elongation, the vascular meristem gradually acquires cambial characteristics. Strips of the periclinal division of cells in transverse section are observed on the inner side of phloem when the primary xylem and phloem in the stele have been established. The strips are united into a continuous layer between phloem and xylem. In tangenital section, the procambium shows a homogeneous structure, which is initially composed of short cells with transverse end walls and subsequently, of long cells with tapering ends. Then, the procambium is organized into two systems of cells; axial strands of short cells with transverse end walls resulting from the sporadic transverse divisions of long cells, and long cells with tapering ends. Still later, the short cells are divided frequently in a trasverse plane exhibiting one or a few cells in width and several decades of cells in height, while the long cells are elongated. The frequency of transverse divisions of the short cells decreases in subsequent stages. Eventually, the short cells in axial strands are vertically separated from one another by the elongation of neighboring long cells and by the decrease in the frequency of transverse divisions of short cells themselves. Cambial initials occur in two forms; ray initials a few cells in height and one cell in width derived from the short cells, and fusiform initials with tapering ends derived from the long cells.     

Structure and development of adventitious roots in Salix caprea and S. caprea × S. viminalis

Formation and structure of adventitious roots in cuttings of two clones of S. caprea and a hybrid betwen S. caprea and 5. viminalis was studied with light microscopy (LM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The hybrid contained large preformed root primordia, which in cuttings placed in water developed into roots in only three days. One of the S. caprea clones contained minute preformed root primordia, which developed into roots in about eight days. Treatment with indolebutyric acid (IBA) increased the percentage of rooted cuttings and the number of roots formed. Roots emerging from IBA-treated cuttings contained both mature protophloem and protoxylem, while in roots of untreated cuttings only some sieve elements of the protophloem were mature. In the other 5. caprea clone no preformed root primordia were detected, but after treatment with IBA roots appeared in about two weeks. The cambium in treated stems produced a large number of cells, most of which differentiated into xylem. Root primordia were initiated in the newly produced tissue external to the cambium. The roots contained both mature protophloem and protoxylem at emergence. A few roots emerged also from extensive callus tissues formed external to the basal end of the cuttings. Cell enlargement and cell divisions in various parts of the base of the cuttings caused disruption of the peripheral tissues, which made the cuttings susceptible to infection by microorganisms.