Variability of Chloroplast Number in Populations of Stomata Guard Cells in Sugar Beet Beta vulgaris L.

Diploid sugar beet plants demonstrate a broad variability of the number of chloroplasts in stomata guard cells, which is related to mixoploidy of cell populations in leaf apical meristems (epigenomic variability). In addition to random organelle segregation between daughter cells, this variability is affected by factors disrupting the mitotic cycle: (1) plant treatment with a mitotic poison, such as colchicine; (2) duration of the life cycle of a plant; the variability in second-year plants is greater than in first-year ones; (3) the mode of plant reproduction; the variability in inbred plants is greater than in the initial population. Treatment of germinating seeds with a diluted colchicine solution increases the number of organelles in cells in the myxoploid generation (generation C₀) and the variance of the distributions in the first vegetation year. The variability in the organelle number in stomata cells correlates with that in maternal meristem cells. It is concluded that the epidermal cell monolayer (including stomata guard cells) keeps record of the epigenomic and epiplastome variability in meristem cells. The variability of the number of chloroplasts in stomata guard cells is approximated by binomials with negative powers.     

Epiplastome variation of the number of chloroplasts in stomata guard cells of sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.)

In stomata guard cells of sugar beet, variation in the number of chloroplasts was studied in successive generations: (1) hybrid generation; (2) generation yielded by uniparental apozygotic seed reproduction; (3) generation obtained after seed treatment with a colchicine solution; (4) generation obtained after seed treatment with 5-azacytidine. As compared to hybrid generation, uniparental seed reproduction increases the average number of chloroplasts in stomata guard cells (from 13.5 to 15.0) and decreases distribution variance of this trait by a factor of 3 to 4. Colchicine increases both average number of chloroplasts in stomata guard cells (from 13.5 to 18.2) and distribution variance (about twice). 5-Azacytindine reduces the number of chloroplasts in cells (from 15.0 to 12.9) but enhances distribution variance (about 1.5 times). Variation in the number of chromosomes in stomata cells is related to myxoploidy in meristem tissue, on the one hand, and to the rate of cell division, on the other. Uniparental seed reproduction is suggested to enhance the number of organelles per cell due to high myxoploidy in cell populations, which is typical of inbred plants. Colchicine blocks spindle division and sharply increases the level of myxoploidy in cell populations and the number of organelles per cell. 5-Azacytidine hypomethylates chromosome DNA, increases the rate of cell divisions, and reduces the number of organelles per cell. The described changes in the number of chloroplasts are inherited in cell lineage ("cell hereditary memory") and successive sporophyte generations.     

Epiplastome Variation of the Number of Chloroplasts in Stomata Guard Cells of Sugar Beet (Beta vulgaris L.)

In stomata guard cells of sugar beet, variation in the number of chloroplasts was studied in successive generations: (1) hybrid generation; (2) generation yielded by uniparental apozygotic seed reproduction; (3) generation obtained after seed treatment with a colchicine solution; (4) generation obtained after seed treatment with 5-azacytidine. As compared to hybrid generation, uniparental seed reproduction increases the average number of chloroplasts in stomata guard cells (from 13.5 to 15.0) and decreases distribution variance of this trait by a factor of 3 to 4. Colchicine increases both average number of chloroplasts in stomata guard cells (from 13.5 to 18.2) and distribution variance (about twice). 5-Azacytindine reduces the number of chloroplasts in cells (from 15.0 to 12.9) but enhances distribution variance (about 1.5 times). Variation in the number of chromosomes in stomata cells is related to myxoploidy in meristem tissue, on the one hand, and to the rate of cell division, on the other. Uniparental seed reproduction is suggested to enhance the number of organelles per cell due to high myxoploidy in cell populations. Colchicine blocks spindle division and sharply increases the level of myxoploidy in cell populations and the number of organelles per cell. 5-Azacytidine hypomethylates chromosome DNA, increases the rate of cell divisions, and reduces the number of organelles per cell. The described changes in the number of chloroplasts are inherited in cell lineage (cell hereditary memory) and successive sporophyte generations.     

田埂报春多倍体诱导及其形态学研究

在离体培养条件下,比较不同浓度、不同处理时间的秋水仙素对田埂报春进行染色体加倍的诱导效果。结果表明:0.08%秋水仙素处理48h的诱变效果最佳,诱变率高达56%。经秋水仙素诱导后形成的多倍体植株与原二倍体植株比较,在形态上,四倍体植株表现出多倍体特征,叶片变厚,叶形指数减小,保卫细胞增大,单位面积气孔数减少,叶绿体数明显增多。对变异植株进行细胞学研究发现,体细胞中期染色体数目为2n=4x=36,而原二倍体的染色体数目为2n=2x=18,基数x=9,因此,变异植株(2n=4x=36)为四倍体。前者的核型公式为2n=4x=8L+12M2+4M1+12S,核型属于1A;后者的核型公式为2n=2x=4L+6M2+2M1+6S,核型也属于1A。检测发现少数个体有非整倍体变异。     

Determination of the ploidy level in chamomile (Chamomilla recutita (L.) Rausch.) strains rich in alpha-bisabolol

The present study aimed to identify morphological traits whose performance depends on plant ploidy in Chamomilla recutita. Flowerhead diameter, 100-flowerhead weight, 1000-seed weight, pollen grain diameter, stoma length, and number of chloroplasts per guard cell, were examined in 5 tetraploid and 5 diploid strains. Out of these traits, stoma length, number of chloroplasts per guard cell, 100-flowerhead weight, and 1000-seed weight, proved to be significantly higher in tetraploid than in diploid strains, and can be used for indirect identification of tetraploid and diploid genotypes in various developmental stages of this species.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Agrobacterium</Emphasis>-mediated transformation of protocorm-like bodies in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cattleya</Emphasis>

A protocol for in vitro induction of crape myrtle tetraploids using nodes from in vitro-grown shoots (2n = 48) was established. Nodal buds were excised from in vitro-grown shoots, maintained on proliferation medium containing Murashige and Skoog medium supplemented with 4.44 μM 6-benzyladenine , 0.54 μM α-naphthaleneacetic acid, and treated with a range of concentrations of colchicine under three different conditions. Nodal bud explants treated in liquid proliferation medium supplemented with either 15 or 20 mM colchicine for 24 h turned necrotic and died; whereas, those cultured on solid proliferation medium supplemented with either 125 or 250 μM colchicine for 30 days survived, but no tetraploid plants were obtained. However, when explants were cultured in liquid proliferation medium containing 250, 500 or 750 μM colchicine for 10 days, tetraploid plants (2n = 96) were obtained. Incubation of explants in medium containing 750 μM colchicine promoted the highest frequency of survival (40%) of explants and of recovered tetraploids (60%). Morphological and anatomical characteristics of leaves, including leaf index, stomata size and number, stomata index (length/width), and number of chloroplasts in guard cells correlated with ploidy of crape myrtle plants. The number of chloroplasts in guard cells of stomata was a stable and reliable marker in discriminating plants of different ploidy levels. Chromosome counts and flow cytometry confirmed these findings.     

Cell cycle regulation in the course of nodule organogenesis in Medicago

The molecular mechanisms of de novo meristem formation, cell differentiation and the integration of the cell cycle machinery into appropriate stages of the developmental programmes are still largely unknown in plants. Legume root nodules, which house nitrogen-fixing rhizobia, are unique plant organs and their development may serve as a model for organogenetic processes in plants. Nodules form and are essential for the plant only under limitation of combined nitrogen in the soil. Moreover, their development is triggered by external mitogenic signals produced by their symbiotic partners, the rhizobia. These signals, the lipochitooligosaccharide Nod factors, act as host-specific morphogens and induce the re-entry of root cortical cells into mitotic cycles. Maintenance of cell division activity leads to the formation of a persistent nodule meristem from which cells exit continuously and enter the nodule differentiation programme, involving multiple cycles of endoreduplication and enlargement of nuclear and cell volumes. While the small diploid 2C cells remain uninfected, the large polyploid cells can be invaded and, after completing the differentiation programme, host the nitrogen-fixing bacteroids. This review summarizes the present knowledge on cell cycle reactivation and meristem formation in response to Nod factors and reports on a novel plant cell cycle regulator that can switch mitotic cycles to differentiation programmes.     

Overexpression of RAN1 in rice and Arabidopsis alters primordial meristem, mitotic progress, and sensitivity to auxin

Ran is an evolutionarily conserved eukaryotic GTPase. We previously identified a cDNA of TaRAN1, a novel Ran GTPase homologous gene in wheat (Triticum aestivum) and demonstrated that TaRAN1 is associated with regulation of genome integrity and cell division in yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) systems. However, much less is known about the function of RAN in plant development. To analyze the possible biological roles of Ran GTPase, we overexpressed TaRAN1 in transgenic Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) and rice (Oryza sativa). TaRAN1 overexpression increased the proportion of cells in the G2 phase of the cell cycle, which resulted in an elevated mitotic index and prolonged life cycle. Furthermore, it led to increased primordial tissue, reduced number of lateral roots, and stimulated hypersensitivity to exogenous auxin. The results suggest that Ran protein was involved in the regulation of mitotic progress, either in the shoot apical meristem or the root meristem zone in plants, where auxin signaling is involved. This article determines the function of RAN in plant development mediated by the cell cycle and its novel role in meristem initiation mediated by auxin signaling.     

CELL DIVISION KINETICS IN THE SHOOT APICAL MERISTEM OF CERATOPTERIS THALICTROIDES BRONG. WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO THE APICAL CELL

The duration of mitosis and the cell cycle were determined for defined cell populations of the shoot apical meristem of Ceratopteris thalictroides Brong. by using the colchicine-induced metaphase accumulation technique. The results indicate that the apical cell is mitotically active and cycles at an apparently greater frequency than the cells of subjacent populations. Duration of mitosis was similar for all cells of the meristem. These results are correlated with mitotic indices of control apices, the geometry of the apex, and the mean number of cells in the meristem. Shoot apices from adult plants were examined to determine mitotic indices within the meristem; mitotic activity was again noted for the apical cell. These results contradict recent proposals that the pteridophyte apical cell serves as a unicellular quiescent center which lacks histogenic potential and offer experimental support for the classical concept of apical cell function in those fern shoot meristems which terminate in a single apical cell.     

Differentiation in Leaf Epidermis of Chlorophytum comosum Baker

The distribution of guard mother-cell formation has been studiedin developing abaxial epidermis in the basal meristem of theleaf of Chlorophytum comosum. It is concluded that, as tissueis displaced from the base of the leaf by growth, it passesthrough a proliferative zone in which only proliferative mitosesoccur, and then passes a boundary into a formative zone in whichformative mitoses occur, giving rise to guard mother cells,and proliferative mitoses are absent. Further distally, formativemitoses die out and in the next zone (the guard-cell zone) theonly mitoses which occur are those by which the guard mothercells give rise to the guard cells. Most distally there is azone with no mitotic activity. The probability of a cell undergoinga formative mitosis is highest at the proximal boundary of theformative zone. It is consequently suggested that the fate ofa cell on entering the formative zone depends partly on itsposition in the mitotic cycle; cells nearest to mitosis at entryare the most likely to undergo a formative mitosis during theirpassage through the formative zone. Similarly, guard mothercells which fail to undergo mitosis may be those which weremost distant from mitosis on entry into the guard cell zone.These suggestions may explain some of the elements of patternpreviously found in the mature epidermis. Chlorophytum comosum Baker, spider plant, leaf epidermis, stomata, pattern, development, formative mitosis, proliferative mitosis     

Induction of tetraploid poplar and black locust plants using colchicine: chloroplast number as an early marker for selecting polyploids in vitro

Tetraploid plants were produced by inducing chromosome doubling using colchicine in in vitro shoot tips of poplar and black locust clones. Many of the plants treated with colchicine showed modified morphological characteristics like stunted growth, thicker leaves and modified leaf morphology. The counting of chloroplast number in the epidermal guard cells of stomata was used for the rapid screening of tetraploids. The differences in mean chloroplast numbers between diploid and tetraploid plants were highly significant. For all plants tested, the tetraploid genotype had almost double the number of chloroplasts per guard cell compared to the diploid origin. Some plants were further analysed by flow cytometry to verify their ploidy status that was determined by chloroplast numbers. The results of this study demonstrated for the first time that chloroplast counting in poplar and black locust could be an effective and reliable method for pre-screening large numbers of plants for their ploidy level. The protocol might be applicable in a wide scope of breeding programs.     

Dependence of Root Cell Growth and Division on Root Diameter

Primary roots of 98 species from different families of monocotyledonous and dicotyledonous plants and adventitious roots obtained from bulbs and rhizomes of 24 monocot species were studied. Root growth rate, root diameter, length of the meristem and elongation zones, number of meristematic cells in a file of cortical cells, and length of fully elongated cells were evaluated in each species after the onset of steady growth. The mitotic cycle duration and relative cell elongation rate were calculated. In all species, the meristem length was approximately equal to two root diameters. When comparing different species, the rate of root growth increased with a larger root diameter. This was due to an increase in the number of meristematic cells in a row and, to a lesser degree, to a greater length of fully elongated cells. The duration of the mitotic cycle and the relative cell elongation rate did not correlate with the root diameter. It is suggested that the meristem size depends on the level of nutrient inflow from upper tissues, and is thereby controlled during further growth.     

Giant chloroplast development in ethylene response1-1 is caused by a second mutation in ACCUMULATION AND REPLICATION OF CHLOROPLAST3 in Arabidopsis

The higher plants of today array a large number of small chloroplasts in their photosynthetic cells. This array of small chloroplasts results from organelle division via prokaryotic binary fission in a eukaryotic plant cell environment. Functional abnormalities of the tightly coordinated biochemical event of chloroplast division lead to abnormal chloroplast development in plants. Here, we described an abnormal chloroplast phenotype in an ethylene insensitive ethylene response1-1 (etr1-1) of Arabidopsis thaliana. Extensive transgenic and genetic analyses revealed that this organelle abnormality was not linked to etr1-1 or ethylene signaling, but linked to a second mutation in ACCUMULATION AND REPLICATION3 (ARC3), which was further verified by genetic complementation analysis. Despite the normal expression of other plastid division-related genes, the loss of ARC3 caused the enlargement of chloroplasts as well as the diminution of a photosynthetic protein Rubisco in etr1-1. Our study has suggested that the increased size of the abnormal chloroplasts may not be able to fully compensate for the loss of a greater array of small chloroplasts in higher plants.     

Variation in the Rate of Cell Division in the Apical Meristem of Sinapis alba During Transition to Flowering

Rates of cell division in the central and the peripheral zonesof vegetative and evoked meristems of Sinapis alba have beenmeasured by accumulation of metaphases after colchicine treatment.The cells of the central zone had a longer cycle than the cellson the flanks of both kinds of meristems. The duration of thecell cycle was shortened in both zones of the meristem duringtransition to flowering. It was shown that the mitotic indicesof the two regions of the meristem were closely comparable totheir rates of cell division and therefore could be consideredrepresentative of the rates of cell division.     

H2O2 intensifies CN−-induced apoptosis in pea leaves

H2O2 intensifies CN(-)-induced apoptosis in stoma guard cells and to lesser degree in basic epidermal cells in peels of the lower epidermis isolated from pea leaves. The maximum effect of H2O2 on guard cells was observed at 10(-4) M. By switching on non-cyclic electron transfer in chloroplasts menadione and methyl viologen intensified H2O2 generation in the light, but prevented the CN--induced apoptosis in guard cells. The light stimulation of CN- effect on guard cell apoptosis cannot be caused by disturbance of the ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase function and associated OH* generation in chloroplasts with participation of free transition metals in the Fenton or Haber-Weiss type reactions as well as with participation of the FeS clusters of the electron acceptor side of Photosystem I. Menadione and methyl viologen did not suppress the CN(-)-induced apoptosis in epidermal cells that, unlike guard cells, contain mitochondria only, but not chloroplasts. Quinacrine and diphenylene iodonium, inhibitors of NAD(P)H oxidase of cell plasma membrane, had no effect on the respiration and photosynthetic O2 evolution by leaf slices, but prevented the CN(-)-induced guard cell death. The data suggest that NAD(P)H oxidase of guard cell plasma membrane is a source of reactive oxygen species (ROS) needed for execution of CN(-)-induced programmed cell death. Chloroplasts and mitochondria were inefficient as ROS sources in the programmed death of guard cells. When ROS generation is insufficient, exogenous H2O2 exhibits a stimulating effect on programmed cell death. H2O2 decreased the inhibitory effects of DCMU and DNP-INT on the CN(-)-induced apoptosis of guard cells. Quinacrine, DCMU, and DNP-INT had no effect on CN(-)-induced death of epidermal cells.     

广藿香毛状根多倍体诱导及其植株再生

为了提高药用植物广藿香的次生物质广藿香醇含量,采用秋水仙素人工诱导染色体加倍技术,进行了广藿香毛状根多倍体诱导及其植株再生、倍性鉴定和挥发油组分广藿香醇含量的测定。结果表明,广藿香毛状根多倍体诱导的最佳条件为0.05%秋水仙素处理36 h,其多倍体诱导率可达40%以上;经秋水仙素加倍的广藿香毛状根在MS+6-BA 0.2 mg/L+NAA 0.1 mg/L培养基中培养60 d后可获得毛状根多倍体再生植株。与对照(二倍体植株)相比,广藿香毛状根多倍体再生植株根系更发达、茎更粗、节间变短、叶片的长度、宽度和厚度均较二倍体明显增大。根尖细胞染色体压片观察证实,所获得的广藿香毛状根多倍体再生植株为四倍体,其根尖细胞染色体数约为128;同时,其叶片的气孔保卫细胞体积及其叶绿体数目均约为对照的两倍;但其气孔密度则随着倍性增加而下降,二倍体植株叶片的气孔密度约为四倍体植株叶片的1.67倍。GC-MS测定结果表明,广藿香毛状根多倍体再生植株的广藿香挥发油组分广藿香醇的含量为4.25 mg/g干重,约为二倍体植株的2.30倍。该结果证实毛状根多倍体化可提高药用植物广藿香的广藿香醇含量。     

Differentiation of haploid and dihaploid rape plants at the cytological and morphological levels

Some cytological and morphological features of haploid and dihaploid winter rapó plants obtained via the anther cultivation approach have been studied. It was shown that in haploid plants the number of chloroplasts in stomatal guard cells, the size of the stomatal guard cells themselves were much smaller, and the number of stomata per square unit was greater than in doubled haploids and diploids. Haploids were also characterized by smaller sizes of petals and anthers and, in general, a smaller flower as compared to dihapliods and diploids.     

The extent and differences in mitotic activity of the root tip ofVicia faba L.

Mitotic activity does not stop for different meristematic cells of the root apex at the same distance from the initials. The differences are connected with the functional heterogeneity of the apical meristem of the root. The arrangement of vascular bundles,i.e. the alternation of independent xylem and phloem groups, is of major importance. In broad bean roots, the protophloem sieve elements stop dividing first. The centre of the stelei. e. late metaxylem elements stop dividing next. Division in the stele gradually ceases centrifugally, while it ceases centripetally in the peripheral part of the root. The cylindrical region with prolonged cell division includes internal layers of the cortex including endodermis, pericycle and adjoining cells of the stele. Proximally apical meristem is reduced to isolated strands of cells adjacent to the protoxylem poles. Pericycle cells stop dividing last at a distance of approx. 9–10 mm from the initials. The number of the division cycles is limited and is specific for individual cell types. Epidermal and cortical cells divide in broad bean roots transversely approximately seven times, cells of late metaxylem approximately five times. Root apical meristem is an asynchronous cell population with a different duration of the mitotic cycle. We determined local variations in the duration of the mitotic cycle in the apical meristem of broad bean root by means of colchicine-induced polyploidy. The cells of the quiescent centre had the longest mitotic cycle after colchicine treatment. The region of the proper root adjacent to the quiescent centre was mixoploid (2n and 4n). Isolated cells with a long cycle occurred also in the cortex and in the central cylinder. Cells with a division cycle of 18h were found in the root cap, in the epidermis, in the cortex and in the central cylinder. Relatively numerous cells with the shortest division cycle, approx. 12 h, occurred farther of the quiescent centre in the epidermis, in the cortex, in the pericycle, and in adjacent layers of the stele through-out the entire meristematic region. The results derived from the analysis of the apical meristem are discussed in connection with the ontogenesis of different types of cells taking part in the primary structure of the root.