Lateral root development in the maize (Zea mays) lateral rootless1 mutant

Background and Aims

The maize lrt1 (lateral rootless1) mutant is impaired in its development of lateral roots during early post-embryonic development. The aim of this study was to characterize, in detail, the influences that the mutation exerts on lateral root initiation and the subsequent developments, as well as to describe the behaviour of the entire plant under variable environmental conditions.

Methods

Mutant lrt1 plants were cultivated under different conditions of hydroponics, and in between sheets of moist paper. Cleared whole mounts and anatomical sections were used in combination with both selected staining procedures and histochemical tests to follow root development. Root surface permeability tests and the biochemical quantification of lignin were performed to complement the structural data.

Key Results

The data presented suggest a redefinition of lrt1 function in lateral roots as a promoter of later development; however, neither the complete absence of lateral roots nor the frequency of their initiation is linked to lrt1 function. The developmental effects of lrt1 are under strong environmental influences. Mutant primordia are affected in structure, growth and emergence; and the majority of primordia terminate their growth during this last step, or shortly thereafter. The lateral roots are impaired in the maintenance of the root apical meristem. The primary root shows disturbances in the organization of both epidermal and subepidermal layers. The lrt1-related cell-wall modifications include: lignification in peripheral layers, the deposition of polyphenolic substances and a higher activity of peroxidase.

Conclusions

The present study provides novel insights into the function of the lrt1 gene in root system development. The lrt1 gene participates in the spatial distribution of initiation, but not in its frequency. Later, the development of lateral roots is strongly affected. The effect of the lrt1 mutation is not as obvious in the primary root, with no influences observed on the root apical meristem structure and maintenance; however, development of the epidermis and cortex are impaired.     

In vitro induction of multiple shoots and plant regeneration inVigna

Summary Cotyledonary nodes, excised cotyledons, and hypocotyl segments of six varieties ofVigna mungo andV. radiata have been tested for their morphogenic potential on media containing a range of hormonal combinations including benzyladenine, kinetin, thidiazuron (TDZ), and zeatin. Multiple shoots developed on cotyledonary node explants in all varieties tested on basal medium containing cytokinin. Presence of both the cotyledons, either full or half, resulted in a maximum number of shoots produced. Shoot bud regeneration was achieved via meristem formation on excised cotyledons on Murashige-skoog basal medium with B₅ vitamins supplemented with TDZ. Mature plants had normal phenotypes.V. mungo var. PS1 andV. radiata var. Pusa 105 were found to be the most responsive varieties for shoot regneration. The histology ofin vitro organogenesis was studied.     

干旱对小麦幼苗诱导蛋白表达与某些生理特性的初步探讨

试验以－１．２ＭＰａＰＥＧ６０００处理动小麦种子（ＴｒｉｔｉｃｕｍａｅｓｔｌｉｖｕｍＬ．）．ＳＤＳ－ＰＡＧＥ图谱分析表明,水分胁迫诱导幼芽及整株均产生４８．４ｋＤ、４１．５ｋＤ二个蛋白质亚基。在幼根中未出现以上二个蛋白亚基。胁迫４８ｈ后,根干重／芽干重比呈上升趋势,幼芽细胞膜楔对透性增大和相对含水量降幅度均大于幼根。     

AFM-based Mapping of the Elastic Properties of Cell Walls: at Tissue,Cellular, and Subcellular Resolutions

We describe a recently developed method to measure mechanical properties of the surfaces of plant tissues using atomic force microscopy (AFM) micro/nano-indentations, for a JPK AFM. Specifically, in this protocol we measure the apparent Young’s modulus of cell walls at subcellular resolutions across regions of up to 100 µm x 100 µm in floral meristems, hypocotyls, and roots. This requires careful preparation of the sample, the correct selection of micro-indenters and indentation depths. To account for cell wall properties only, measurements are performed in highly concentrated solutions of mannitol in order to plasmolyze the cells and thus remove the contribution of cell turgor pressure.In contrast to other extant techniques, by using different indenters and indentation depths, this method allows simultaneous multiscale measurements, i.e. at subcellular resolutions and across hundreds of cells comprising a tissue. This means that it is now possible to spatially-temporally characterize the changes that take place in the mechanical properties of cell walls during development, enabling these changes to be correlated with growth and differentiation. This represents a key step to understand how coordinated microscopic cellular changes bring about macroscopic morphogenetic events.However, several limitations remain: the method can only be used on fairly small samples (around 100 µm in diameter) and only on external tissues; the method is sensitive to tissue topography; it measures only certain aspects of the tissue’s complex mechanical properties. The technique is being developed rapidly and it is likely that most of these limitations will be resolved in the near future.     

Plant genotype and growth regulators interaction affecting in vitro morphogenesis of blackberry and raspberry

The morphogenic response of somatic (leaf and petiole) and de-differentiated tissue (callus) of two blackberry (Rubus fruticosus) and one raspberry (Rubus idaeus) cultivars have been studied in vitro. With the aim to induce regeneration the effect of two sets of plant growth regulator (PGR) combinations (high cytokinin/auxin ratios and high auxin/cytokinin ratios) in Murashige and Skoog basal medium, were analysed. The three cultivars were characterised by a qualitatively different morphogenic response to the PGR combinations. Raspberry adventitious shoot regeneration from somatic tissue was improved by the 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP)/indol-3-butyric acid (IBA) combinations. On the contrary, shoot regeneration of both blackberry cultivars was reduced by high concentrations of BAP and completely inhibited by BAP/IBA combination. Media supplemented with high auxin/cytokinin ratios promoted callus production and root differentiation according to genotype and type of auxin. All the genotypes responded to media supplemented with IBA. 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid induced good callus formation in blackberry, but was toxic to raspberry. Indirect shoot formation was observed only in callus of blackberry cultivar Hull Thornless cultivated on medium with 10 μM BAP, the same concentration able to trigger efficient direct shoot regeneration from leaf explants of the same cultivar. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">ZWILLE</Emphasis> buffers meristem stability in<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Arabidopsis thaliana</Emphasis>

The shoot apical meristem of higher plants consists of a population of stem cells at the tip of the plant body that continuously gives rise to organs such as leaves and flowers. Cells that leave the meristem differentiate and must be replaced to maintain the integrity of the meristem. The balance between differentiation and maintenance is governed both by the environment and the developmental status of the plant. In order to respond to these different stimuli, the meristem has to be plastic thus ensuring the stereotypic shape of the plant body. Meristem plasticity requires the ZWILLE (ZLL) gene. In zll mutant embryos, the apical cells are misspecified causing a variability of the meristems size and function. Using specific antibodies against ZLL, we show that the zll phenotype is due to the complete absence of the ZLL protein. In immunohistochemical experiments we confirm the observation that ZLL is solely localized in vascular tissue. For a better understanding of the role of ZLL in meristem stability, we analysed the genetic interactions of ZLL with WUSCHEL (WUS) and the CLAVATA1, 2 and 3 (CLV) genes that are involved in size regulation of the meristem. In a zll loss-of-function background wus has a negative effect whereas clv mutations have a positive effect on meristem size. We propose that ZLL buffers meristem stability non-cell-autonomously by ensuring the critical number of apical cells required for proper meristem function.Edited by G. JürgensAn erratum to this article can be found at     

铁皮石斛腋芽的快速繁殖

目的利用组织培养技术建立铁皮石斛的高效快繁体系,克隆繁殖种苗,为野生居群的恢复提供材料。方法以铁皮石斛腋芽为外植体,研究不同浓度和配比的基本培养基、激素以及天然提取物对腋芽萌发生长,丛生芽的诱导增殖以及壮苗生根的影响,比较不同培养阶段的增殖倍数,筛选各时期的最适培养基。并对试管苗的形态学特征进行了调查。结果1/2MS+NAA 0.2 mg/L+BA 1 mg/L适合腋芽的成活生长。BA与香蕉汁组合有利于丛生芽的诱导增殖,其最适比例为1/2MS+NAA 0.5 mg/L+BA 2.0 mg/L+香蕉汁100 g/L,增殖倍数最大可达14.0,平均增殖倍数为6.4。培养基中添加100 g/L香蕉汁或200 g/L马铃薯汁均有利于壮苗生根。结论铁皮石斛通过腋芽形成丛生芽途径建立高效的快繁技术体系获得优质种苗是可行的。