Repetitive cellular patterns in the secondary phloem of conifer and dicot trees,and a hypothesis for their development

Abstract

The radial fusiform cell files of the secondary phloem of conifers and dicots are composed of different cell types?–?fibres, parenchyma and sieve cells (in conifers), or sieve elements plus companion cells (in dicots). These cell types are arranged in characteristic, species-specific sequences along the radii of the files. The sequences are replicated in adjacent files and this leads to tangential bands of similar cell type. Moreover, the sequences are developed repetitively so that a sequence found in one year's growth increment of phloem is repeated in the next increment. In some species, many repetitions of the same sequence occur within one annual increment. A general hypothesis has been developed to account for the radial sequences of cell types. It is proposed that there is a gradient of a phloem-promoting morphogen, a series of morphogen thresholds for the determination of each phloem cell type, and a particular spatio-temporal pattern of periclinal cell division in the phloem domain of the vascular cambium that generates a corresponding pattern of cell displacement through the morphogen gradient in the immediately post-mitotic zone of cell determination. The feasibility of the hypothesis was supported by means of simulation which, using a constant set of initial conditions, could reproduce very nearly all the radial sequences of cell types found in the secondary phloem of a range of species of conifers and woody dicots. The tangential banding of the various cell types suggests that cell production and cell determination are events which occur synchronously across the radial files. The repeating blocks of cell types may constitute functional modules of phloem tissue, and the constituent cells probably have particular patterns of symplasmic connections and mechano-structural properties.     

Patterned cell development in the secondary phloem of dicotyledonous trees: a review and a hypothesis

The secondary phloem of dicotyledonous trees and shrubs is constructed of sieve tube cells (S) and their companion cells, as well as parenchyma (P) and fibre (F) cells. Different species have characteristic sequences of these S, P and F cells within the radial files of their phloem. The sequences are recurrent, and are evidence of rhythmic cell determination and differentiation. A model was devised to account for the sequences found in various dicot tree species. It is based on the pattern of radial displacement of cells through a gradient of morphogen which supports secondary phloem development. According to this model, each tree species shows a particular pattern of post-mitotic cellular displacement along each radial file as a result of a corresponding sequence of periclinal division in the cambial initial and its descendents. The divisions and displacements ensure that at each timestep (equivalent to an interdivisional interval) each cell resides in a specific location within the morphogenic gradient. Cells then emerge from the post-mitotic zone of cell determination, having acquired different final positional values. These values lie above a series of thresholds that permit the respective determination and subsequent differentiation of one or other of the three cell types S, P and F. The recurrent nature of the sequences of the three cell types within each radial cell file, as well as their tangential banding, are a consequence of a shared rhythmic spatio-temporal pattern of periclinal cambial divisions. With a single set of morphogen parameters required for cell determination, and using three positions for cambial cell divisions, all the cellular sequences of secondary phloem illustrated in the literature can be accounted for.This is an invited article.     

Stem anatomy and development of inter- and intraxylary phloem in Leptadenia pyrotechnica (Forssk.) Decne. (Asclepiadaceae)

Modification of external morphology and internal structure of plants is a key feature of their successful survival in extreme habitats. They adapt to arid habitats not only by modifying their leaves, but also show several modifications in their conducting system. Therefore, the present study is aimed to investigate the pattern of secondary growth in Leptadenia pyrotechnica (Forssk.) Decne., (Asclepiadaceae), one such species growing in Kachchh district, an arid region of Gujarat State. A single ring of vascular cambium, responsible for radial growth, divided bidirectionally and formed the secondary xylem centripetally and the phloem centrifugally. After a short period of secondary xylem differentiation, small arcs of cambium began to form secondary phloem centripetally instead of secondary xylem. After a short duration of such secondary phloem formation, these segments of cambium resumed their normal function to produce secondary xylem internally. Thus, the phloem strands became embedded within the secondary xylem and formed interxylary phloem islands. Such a recurrent behavior of the vascular cambium resulted in the formation of several patches of interxylary phloem islands. In thick stems the earlier formed non-conducting interxylary phloem showed heavy accumulation of callose on the sieve plates followed by their crushing in response to the addition of new sieve elements. Development of intraxylary phloem is also observed from the cells situated on the pith margin. As secondary growth progresses further, small arcs of internal cambium get initiated between the protoxylem and intraxylary phloem. In the secondary xylem, some of the vessels are exceptionally thick-walled, which may be associated with dry habitats in order to protect the vessel from collapsing during the dryer part of the year. The inter- and intraxylary phloem may also be an adaptive feature to prevent the sieve elements to become non-conducting during summer when the temperature is much higher.     

Molecular features of secondary vascular tissue regeneration after bark girdling in Populus

Regeneration is a common strategy for plants to repair damage to their tissue after attacks from other organisms or physical assaults. However, how differentiating cells acquire regenerative competence and rebuild the pattern of new tissues remains largely unknown. Using anatomical observation and microarray analysis, we investigated the morphological process and molecular features of secondary vascular tissue regeneration after bark girdling in trees. After bark girdling, new phloem and cambium regenerate from differentiating xylem cells and rebuild secondary vascular tissue pattern within 1 month. Differentiating xylem cells acquire regenerative competence through epigenetic regulation and cell cycle re-entry. The xylem developmental program was blocked, whereas the phloem or cambium program was activated, resulting in the secondary vascular tissue pattern re-establishment. Phytohormones play important roles in vascular tissue regeneration. We propose a model describing the molecular features of secondary vascular tissue regeneration after bark girdling in trees. It provides information for understanding mechanisms of tissue regeneration and pattern formation of the secondary vascular tissues in plants.     

Cell division systems that account for the various arrangements and types of differentiated cells within the secondary phloem of conifers

There are two main types of arrangement of differentiated cells within the radial cell files of secondary phloem in conifer trees. In the C-type arrangement, characteristic of the Cupressaceae, fibre (F), parenchyma (P) and sieve (S) cells are arranged in recurrent groups, such as the “standard” cellular quartet (FSPS). In the P-type arrangement, characteristic of the Pinaceae, there are no fibres and one of the characteristic recurrent arrangements is the cellular sextet (PSSSSS). In addition, in both C-type and P-type arrangements, similar cell types are often organised into tangential bands. A simulation model, based on the theory of L-systems, was devised to account for the determination of these two types of regular and recurrent patterns of differentiated phloem cells. It was based on the supposition that, in the meristematic portion of the phloem domain, there are specific spatio-temporal patterns of periclinal cell division. When new cells are produced, those already present are displaced along the cell file, occupying a predictable number of cellular positions as a result of each round of cell division. Each cellular position is assumed to be associated with a specific value of a morphogen, such as the auxin, indole acetic acid, relevant for vascular differentiation. Using published quantitative data on the distribution auxin across the phloem, and assuming specific threshold values of auxin necessary for the determination of each cell type, it was found that sequences of F, S or P cells developed in accordance with the specific pattern of cell division and the related positional values of auxin experienced by the cells during their displacement through the immediately post-mitotic zone of cell determination. The model accounts not only for the typical C-type and P-type cellular arrangements, but also for certain variant arrangements. It provides a working example of the concepts of positional information and positional value for patterned differentiation within a developing plant tissue. There are similarities between the way groups of phloem cells develop and the differentiation of somites in the embryos of vertebrates.     

Radial secondary growth and formation of successive cambia and their products in Ipomoea hederifolia L. (Convolvulaceae)

Ipomoea hederifolia stems increase in thickness using a combination of different types of cambial variant, such as the discontinuous concentric rings of cambia, the development of included phloem, the reverse orientation of discontinuous cambial segments, the internal phloem, the formation of secondary xylem and phloem from the internal cambium, and differentiation of cork in the pith. After primary growth, the first ring of cambium arises between the external primary phloem and primary xylem, producing secondary phloem centrifugally and secondary xylem centripetally. The stem becomes lobed, flat, undulating, or irregular in shape as a result of the formation of both discontinuous and continuous concentric rings of cambia. As the formation of secondary xylem is greater in one region than in another, this results in the formation of a grooved stem. Successive cambia formed after the first ring are of two distinct functional types: (1) functionally normal successive cambia that divide to form secondary xylem centripetally and secondary phloem centrifugally, like other dicotyledons that show successive rings, and (2) abnormal cambia with reverse orientation. The former type of successive rings originates from the parenchyma cells located outside the phloem produced by previous cambium. The latter type of cambium develops from the conjunctive tissue located at the base of the secondary xylem formed by functionally normal cambia. This cambium is functionally inverted, producing secondary xylem centrifugally and secondary phloem centripetally. In later secondary growth, xylem parenchyma situated deep inside the secondary xylem undergoes de‐differentiation, and re‐differentiates into included phloem islands in secondary xylem. © 2008 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2008, 158 , 30–40.     

Stem anatomy of the dwarf subshrub Cressa cretica L. (Convolvulaceae)

Stem anatomy and development of medullary phloem are studied in the dwarf subshrub Cressa cretica L. (Convolvulaceae). The family Convolvulaceae is dominated by vines or woody climbers, which are characterized by the presence of successive cambia, medullary- and included phloem, internal cambium and presence of fibriform vessels. The main stems of the not winding C. cretica shows presence of medullary (internal) phloem, internal cambium and fibriform vessels, whereas successive cambia and included phloem are lacking. However, presence of fibriform vessels is an unique feature which so far has been reported only in climbing members of the family. Medullary phloem develops from peri-medullary cells after the initiation of secondary growth and completely occupies the pith region in fully grown mature plants. In young stems, the cortex is wide and formed of radial files of tightly packed small and large cells without intercellular air spaces. In thick stems, cortical cells become compressed due to the pressure developed by the radial expansion of secondary xylem, a feature actually common to halophytes. The stem diameter increases by the activity of a single ring of vascular cambium. The secondary xylem is composed of vessels (both wide and fibriform), fibres, axial parenchyma cells and uni-seriate rays. The secondary phloem consists of sieve elements, companion cells, axial and ray parenchyma cells. In consequence, Cressa shares anatomical characteristics of both climbing and non-climbing members. The structure of the secondary xylem is correlated with the habit and comparable with that of other climbing members of Convolvulaceae.     

Morphogenetic Processes: Application to Cambial Growth Dynamics

Both the physiological and the pathological morphogenetic processes that we can meet in embryogenesis, neogenesis and degenerative dysgenesis present common features: they are ruled by three different kinds of mechanisms, one related to cell migration, the second to cell differentiation and the third to cell proliferation. We deal here with an application to the cambial growth which essentially involves the third type of mechanism. Woody plants produce secondary tissue (secondary xylem and phloem) from a meristematic tissue called vascular cambium, responsible for the radial growth of a tree. This paper focuses on the formation of secondary xylem, considered in two dimensions in a cross-section framework. A new discrete modelling approach is used, based on the cellular scale, in order to attain a more accurate understanding of how the elementary microscopic behaviour of each cell takes part in the macroscopic morphogenesis. The mathematical model essentially uses an occurrence method simulating the main features of radial growth with simple geometric rules, such as Thom's division rule (Thom,1972)to account for the cell proliferation. The study applies to concrete instances in which the changes made in the geometrical cellular patterns of the vascular cambium clearly affect the shape of the tree, as in Pinus radiata (D. Don.).     

PHLOEM OF SPHENOPHYLLUM

The phloem of most fossil plants, including that of Sphenophyllum, is very poorly known. Sphenophyllum was a relatively small type of fossil arthrophyte with jointed stems bearing whorls of leaves ranging in form from wedge or fan-shaped to bifid, to linear. The aerial stem systems of the plant exhibited determinate growth involving progressive reduction in the dimensions of the stem primary bodies, fewer leaves per whorl, and smaller and simpler leaves distally. The primary phloem occurs in three areas alternating in position with the arms of the triarch centrally placed primary xylem. Cells of the primary phloem, presumably sieve elements, are axially elongate with horizontal to slightly tapered end walls. In larger stems with abundant secondary xylem and secondary cortex or periderm, a zone of secondary phloem occurs whose structure varies in the three areas opposite the arms of the primary xylem, as opposed to the three areas lying opposite the concave sides of the primary xylem. The axial system of the secondary phloem consists of vertical series of sieve elements with horizontal end walls. In the areas opposite the protoxylem the parenchyma is present as a prominent ray system showing dilation peripherally. Sieve elements in the areas opposite the protoxylem arms have relatively small diameters. In the areas between the protoxylem poles the secondary phloem sieve elements have large diameters and are less obviously in radial files, while the parenchyma resembles that of the secondary xylem in these areas in that it consists of strands of cells extending both radially and tangentially. An actively meristematic vascular cambium has not been found, indicating that this layer changed histologically after the cessation of growth in the determinate aerial stem systems and was replaced by a post-meristematic parenchyma sheath made up of axially elongate parenchyma lacking cells indicative of being either fusiform or ray initials. A phellogen arose early in development in a tissue believed to represent pericycle and produced tissue comparable to phellem externally. Normally, derivatives of the phellogen underwent one division prior to the maturation of the cells. Concentric bands of cells with dark contents apparently represent secretory tissue in the periderm and cell arrangements indicate that a single persistent phellogen was present. Sphenophyllum is compared with other arthrophytes as to phloem structure and is at present the best documented example of a plant with a functionally bifacial vascular cambium in any exclusively non-seed group of vascular plants.     

Growth, development, and systematics of ferns: Does Botrychium s.l. (Ophioglossales) really produce secondary xylem?1

Developmental morphology and anatomy of Botrychium s.l. were studied to clarify rhizome ontogeny and patterns of tissue maturation that can be used to test the hypothesis that ferns of the Ophioglossales may represent living progymnosperms. Serial anatomical sections of the rhizomes of B. virginianum and B. dissectum reveal that apical meristematic activity and vascular tissue maturation occur over an extended period of several years and then stop. Most of the xylem consists of radial rows of tracheids and interspersed ray-like xylem parenchyma cells that are similar in these respects to secondary xylem, but pits occur on all tracheid walls as is characteristic of primary xylem. No vascular cambium is initiated in mature primary tissues, nor is there secondary phloem. Radial rows of xylem cells are produced by the direct continuation of divisions that begin at the shoot apical meristem, forming a cylinder of radially aligned procambial cells before the differentiation of protoxylem. Continuing divisions over a period of several years increase the number of thin-walled cells and tracheids in each radial row back to about one internode behind where the current year's frond trace diverges from the rhizome stele. At more proximal levels of the rhizome, procambial cell divisions cease and there is no additional tracheid differentiation. These data reveal that the rhizome matures over an exceedingly long period of several years, but that growth is ultimately determinate, thus supporting hypotheses that the Ophioglossales is more closely related to other groups of living ferns than to progymnosperms and seed plants.     

Developmental anatomy of vascular cambium and periderm ofBotrypus virginianus and its bearing on the systematic position of ophioglossaceae

The developmental anatomy of the vascular cambium and periderm ofBotrypus virginianus was studied, and its bearing on the systematic position of Ophioglossacease is discussed. The cambial zone including cambium is initiated in a procambial ring of the stem before primary vascular tissue is well differentiated. The presumed cambium is composed of fusiform and ray initials. The cambium is extremely unequally bifacial, producing secondary xylem centripetally, and quite a small number of parenchymatous cells but no secondary phloem centrifugally. The cambial activity persists long, although it is very low in the mature part of the stem. It seems that the circumferential increase of the cambium is accommodated by an increase in the number of cambial initials. Secondary xylem is nonstoried and composed of tracheids with circular-bordered pits with evenly thick pit membranes, and uniseriate or partly biseriate radial rays. It makes up the bulk of the stem xylem. Periderm is formed almost entirely around the stem, simultaneous with its increment due to the secondary xylem. The combination of these anatomical features of secondary tissue supports the idea that Ophioglossaceae are living progymnosperms.     

药用植物商陆(Phytolacca acinosa Roxb.)根中异常次生结构的发育解剖学研究

本文报道了药用植物商陆根中异常次生结构的发生和发育过程。商陆根的初生结构和早期的次生结构都是正常的。但是,后来在维管柱的外围以离心的顺序先后产生5-7轮异常形成层.第一轮异常形成层起源于次生韧皮薄壁细胞和射线细胞。后一轮异常形成层在前一轮异常形成层向外产生的薄壁结合组织中发生。各轮异常形成层都以正常的活动方式产生同心环状排列的异常维管束以及它们之间丰富的薄壁结合组织,从而使根变成肉质状。薄壁结合组织细胞以及异常维管束内的薄壁组织细胞中贮藏有淀粉粒。     

XYLEM INTERMIXED WITH PHLOEM1, a leucine-rich repeat receptor-like kinase required for stem growth and vascular development in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Arabidopsis thaliana</Emphasis>

The regulation of cell specification in plants is particularly important in vascular development. The vascular system is comprised two differentiated tissue types, the xylem and phloem, which form conductive elements for the transport of water, nutrients and signaling molecules. A meristematic layer, the procambium, is located between these two differentiated cell types and divides to initiate vascular growth. We report the identification of a receptor-like kinase (RLK) that is expressed in the vasculature. Histochemical analyses of mutants in this kinase display an aberrant accumulation of highly lignified cells, typical of xylem or fiber cells, within the phloem. In addition, phloem cells are sometimes located adjacent to xylem cells in these mutants. We, therefore, named this RLK XYLEM INTERMIXED WITH PHLOEM 1 (XIP1). Analyses of longitudinal profiles of xip1 mutant stems show malformed cell files, indicating defects in oriented cell divisions or cell morphology. We propose that XIP1 prevents ectopic lignification in phloem cells and is necessary to maintain the organization of cell files or cell morphology in conductive elements.     

Secondary Growth in Bougainvillea

The anomalous secondary growth was studied in roots and stemsof two species of Bougainvillea. The anomalous cambia arisesuccessively in centrifugal order, each originating among thederivatives of the preceding cambium. Each cambium layer functionsbidirectionally producing xylem towards the inside of the axisand phloem towards the outside. The sequence of production ofvascular cells is the following: (1) conjunctive tissue andxylem fibres towards the inside; (2) phloem towards the outside;(3) additional xylem with vessels towards the inside and additionalphloem towards the outside. The new cambia arise outside theoldest phloem cells of a given increment. This phloem may benonfunctional and crushed at that time. The phloem and the xylemdifferentiate from radially seriated derivatives produced sequentiallyby tangential divisions in the cambium. Divisions among thephloem initials and growth readjustments in the differentiatingxylem obscure the radial seriation to a moderate extent.     

Seasonal development of phloem in Scots pine stems

The formation of phloem was studied for two years in stems of 50 to 60 year old trees of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) growing in nature. The development of phloem of the current year begins 10 to 20 days before the xylem formation and is completed with the termination of shoot growth in the end of June. Observations over the seasonal activity of cambium producing sieve-like cells of phloem and duration of their differentiation as compared to the xylem derivatives of cambium have shown that the maxima of formation of phloem and xylem cells could coincide or not coincide by season, while the activities of their differentiation were always at antiphase. The sieve-like cells of early phloem were separated from those of late phloem by a layer of tannin-containing cells, which are formed simultaneously with the formation of late xylem cells by the cambium. Seasonal dynamics of accumulation of starch grain in structural elements of the phloem is related to the xylem development. The content of metabolites in differentiating and mature phloem elements, in the cambium zone, and in the xylem cells growing in the radial direction depended on cell specificity, stage of their development, and type of forming wood, early or late, which differ in the cell wall parameters and, hence, requirement of assimilates. Significant differences were described between the content of low molecular weigh carbohydrates, amino acids, organic acids, and phenol compounds using two methods of calculation: per dry weight and per cell.     

银州柴胡根的发育解剖学研究

本研究采用常规石蜡切片结合荧光显微镜技术对银州柴胡根的发育解剖学进行了研究。结果表明:（1）银州柴胡根顶端分生组织由原分生组织及其衍生的初生分生组织组成。原生分生组织细胞体积小、排列紧密、细胞质浓厚、细胞核大而明显，具有典型的分生组织的特点；（2）初生分生组织由根冠原、表皮原、皮层原和中柱原组成。在根发育过程中，表皮、皮层和维管柱共同组成其初生结构。银州柴胡根初生木质部为二原型或三原型，外始式；同时在根表皮细胞的径向壁观察到径向壁的细胞壁加厚；（3）在根次生生长过程中，位于初生木质部和初生韧皮部之间的原形成层恢复分裂能力产生维管形成层，维管形成层不断地向外产生次生韧皮部，向内产生次生木质部；同时位于根内皮层内方的中柱鞘细胞恢复分裂能力产生木栓形成层，木栓形成层向外形成木栓层，向内形成栓内层。在维管形成层和木栓形成层分裂的过程中，在次生韧皮部和中柱鞘组织中产生形态大小不同的分泌道，均为次生的裂生型分泌道。研究认为，银州柴胡根的结构类似于药典收录的北柴胡和红柴胡根的结构特点，但其根表皮细胞径向壁加厚、木纤维的分布、分泌道的大小和数量等有别于柴胡属其它植物，可作为柴胡属植物重要的分类鉴定依据。     

THE ONTOGENY OF THE PRIMARY THICKENING MERISTEM OF ATRIPLEX HORTENSIS L. (CHENOPODIACEAE)

Seedlings of Atriplex hortensis were studied to ascertain; 1) in which organ the primary thickening meristem (PTM) first differentiates; 2) the direction of differentiation of the PTM, and 3) the pattern of differentiation of conjunctive tissue. The PTM initially differentiates in pericycle of the primary root base 11 days after emergence of the primary root. It then differentiates in the transition region of the hypocotyl, mostly in cells of pericycle between pairs of vascular bundles. In the upper hypocotyl, PTM differentiates by day 20 in the inner layer of cortical parenchyma. In the epicotyl, PTM apparently differentiates in the inner layer of cortex, by day 24. Desmogic xylem differentiates from radial files of internal conjunctive tissue cells and desmogic phloem differentiates opposite desmogic xylem strands from newly formed cells of external conjunctive tissue. No interfascicular cambium differentiates in the root, hypocotyl, or epicotyl.     

牛膝根的发育解剖学研究

应用植物解剖学方法研究了牛膝(Achyranthes bidentataBlume.)根的发育过程.研究结果表明,牛膝根的发育包括原分生组织、初生分生组织、初生结构、次生结构和三生生长5个发育阶段.原分生组织具有典型分生组织的细胞特征;初生分生组织包括根冠原、表皮原、皮层原和中柱原;初生结构由表皮、皮层和中柱组成.其内皮层细胞上凯氏带明显.初生木质部多为二原型;次生结构从外到内由周皮和次生维管组织组成,其木栓形成层由中柱鞘细胞恢复分裂能力而形成,次生结构中,次生维管组织占主要地位;牛膝根的进一步加粗主要是由于三生结构的发生和分化.第一圈额外形成层产生于次生韧皮部外侧的薄壁组织细胞和射线细胞,以后的每一圈由前一圈向外衍生的薄壁组织细胞产生.额外形成层无纺锤状原始细胞和射线原始细胞之分,在切向纵切面上呈叠生排列.三生维管束以离心方式排列成整齐的同心环状,由薄壁结合组织将其彼此分开,其圈数与额外形成层的圈数是一致的,随着根的个体发育而不断增加.