Plant cell extension: structural implications for the origin of the plasma membrane

Abstract. The proposal that rapidly elongating plant cells cannot maintain plasma membrane synthesis by means of the normal endomembrane system has been examined in elongating segments of Avena sativa coleoptiles. Segments were sampled and fixed for electron microscopy, before and after elongation on auxin solutions. Mean cell extensions, cytoplasmic volumes, dictyosomc numbers, and vesicle sizes and numbers were determined. It was shown that there are sufficient dictyosomes present to sustain the vesicle production necessary for the observed plasma membrane extension.     

The Use of Quantitative Electron Microscopy in the Study of Lipid Composition of Membranes

It is argued that a knowledge of the extent of individual cellmembrane systems is of crucial importance to the understandingof results obtained from lipid analysis of tissues and isolatedmembrane systems. In this preliminary study stereological methodshave been applied to electron micrographs of cucumber leavesat different stages of expansion, to assess the area of eachmembrane system present. The equivalent phospholipid-proteinmembrane area for the largest leaf was found to be 500 x 10⁹µm² compared with a value of 961 x 10⁹ µm² calculatedfrom published data on the phospholipid content of a similarleaf. Possible applications of quantitative electron microscopyto certain lipid studies are reviewed and it is concluded thatthis approach should be more widely adopted.     

Cystolith Development and Structure in Pilea cadierei (Urticaceae)

Cystolith formation, structure and composition have been investigatedin leaves and stem internodes of Pilea cadierei (Urticaceae)using a variety of techniques at the light and electron microscopelevels. The development of lithocysts from epidermal cells hasbeen followed. These cells are cytoplasmically similar to otherepidermal cells but possess a much more active Golgi apparatusand more numerous mitochondria. The cystolith is a spindle-shapedbody composed of concentric layers of longitudinally orientatedcellulose microfibrils associated with pectins and other cellwall polysaccharides. At maturity it is heavily impregnatedwith calcium carbonate. Some cystoliths also contain siliconand are covered in a sheath of siliceous material. Cystolithformation occurs at the tip of a peg that grows in from thelithocyst wall. Evidence from ultrastructure suggests that thelithocytst cytoplasm transports carbohydrates to the cystolithvia Golgi vesicles, and organizes the deposition of cystolithcellulose microfibrils via a system of microtubules lying beneaththe plasma membrane that envelopes the growing cystolith. Thepeg is composed of heavily staining amorphous material likethat of an apoplastically sealed cell wall. It is incapableof supporting the migration of lanthanum ions into the cystolith.We conclude that cystoliths are isolated volumes of apoplastthat act as repositories for inorganic salts, principally calciumcarbonate. We propose that calcium ions move into the lithocystprotoplast from surrounding cells and are then transported acrossthe plasma membrane boundary into the cystolith. This proposalconflicts with previous suggestions that calcium enters by diffusionthrough the peg. Cystolith, lithocyst, cell wall, calcium, silicon, cytochemistry, electron probe analysis, Pilea cadierei     

The Root Cap as a Test System for the Evaluation of Golgi Inhibitors: I. STRUCTURE AND DYNAMICS OF THE SECRETORY SYSTEM AND RESPONSE TO SOLVENTS

Maize (Zea mays) seedlings were grown under standard conditionsand the time for reformation of a slime droplet of standardsize was determined. The structure of the secretory cells wasexamined by light and electron microscopy. Osmium-zinc iodide(OZI) impregnation was used to provide contrast enhancementof the dictyosome forming-face cisternae and the endoplasmicreticulum (ER). The three-dimensional structure and relationshipsof these membrane systems were established from examinationof 300 nm thick sections. The presence of a marginal cisternalnetwork at the forming-face was confirmed, but no specific orientationof the ER to this face, or connection of ER to any part of thedictyosome could be demonstrated. Neither observation of reforming slime droplets, nor quantificationof secretory vesicle numbers gave any support to the suggestionthat slime formation is a phasic, or cyclic, process. Dilute solutions of solvents (1% ethanol, 1% and 0.1% DMSO)commonly used to solubilize potential inhibitors of Golgi activitywere found to delay significantly the time taken for reformationof a slime droplet of standard size. These solutions also hadslight effects on the numerical density of secretory vesicles. Cytochalasin D-induced accumulation of secretory vesicles wasused to determine rates of vesicle formation (0.39 dictyosome^–1min^–1) and hence turnover times for cisternal (6.5 min)and total dictyosome (26–39 min) membranes and the plasmamembrane (9.7 min). The volume contribution of the secretory vesicles to the slimedroplet was shown to be exceedingly small (0–1%), throwingdoubt on the value of using droplet reformation rates as anindicator of secretory activity. Key words: Maize, Root cap secretion, Dictyosome activity     

Dominance rank influences food hoarding in New Zealand Robins Petroica australis

Social interactions are thought to be an important determinant of food hoarding behaviour in birds. Theoretical work predicts that subordinate birds should cache more to offset losses to dominant birds. However, empirical support for this prediction is mixed. We evaluated whether social dominance influences the food hoarding behaviour of New Zealand Robins Petroica australis . Robins provide a unique opportunity to test food hoarding theory because they are fearless of humans and will cache food presented to them by hand. We offered mealworms to free-ranging male and female Robins to test whether (1) one sex was socially dominant, (2) the subordinate sex cached more frequently than the dominant sex and (3) birds cached more frequently when they were in the presence of a potential competitor. Our results indicate that males were dominant over females. Males acquired most of the prey offered to birds during trials and won all aggressive encounters observed between sexes. However, caching rates ran contrary to theoretical predictions. Males stored approximately twice as many mealworms as females. Both sexes also stored more food when they were alone than when they were accompanied by conspecifics. We interpret the reluctance of females and paired birds to hoard food as a strategy to avoid the loss of caches to competitors. Our overall results indicate that dominance rank strongly influences caching decisions, but that caching rates ran contrary to theoretical predictions.     

Control of Ribulose-1,5-diphosphate Carboxylase Activity During Expansion of Leaves of Capsicum frutescens L.

The activity of ribulose-1,5-diphosphate carboxylase per unitlaminar area increases rapidly during early stages of leaf expansionin Capsicum frutescens L. cv. California Wonder. This is followedby a decrease to a level that is constant until expansion stops. A previous suggestion that the expansion of younger leaves inthe same phyllotactic sector controlled the decrease in enzymeactivity in older expanding leaves has not been verified byexperiments involving the selective excision of leaves and cotyledons.Decrease in enzyme activity was accompanied by a fall in FractionI protein content but another chloroplastic enzyme, -aminolevulinicacid dehydrase, did not exhibit a decrease in activity. Intra-chloroplasticmechanisms, rather than the influence of other plant organs,are suggested as controlling ribulose-1,5-diphosphate carboxylaseactivity during later stages of leaf expansion.     

The Regulatory Role of Inflorescence Leaves in Fruit-setting by Sweet Orange (Citrus sinensis)

Inflorescence leaves improve fruit set on sweet orange trees. We sought an explanation for this effect in terms of carbon demand by developing fruit versus potential supply from adjacent leaves. Our assessment was based upon measurements of fruit growth, leaf photosynthesis and ¹⁴C distribution patterns in plants grown under controlled conditions. Leafy inflorescences had sufficient foliar surface (1.24 dm²) and photosynthetic capacity (CO₂ 10.1 mg · dm^-2· h^-1) to support early development of fruits on the same shoot, and to make a substantial contribution towards subsequent growth. ¹⁴C-assimilates derived from new leaves were distributed towards adjacent fruit which showed strong competition for labelled substrate. By contrast, fruit borne on leafless inflorescences had to obtain all their assimilates from older leaves whose photosynthetic capacity (CO₂ 3.5–4.6 mg · dm^-2· h^-1) and individual area (0.2 dm²) were generally insufficient to wholly sustain fruit growth, so that a large number of old-leaves were needed; these fruit would be more susceptible to competition from other sinks.     

The Dynamics of Leaf Growth and Photosynthetic Capacity in Capsicum frutescens L.

In Capsicum frutescens L. cv. California Wonder the specificleaf weight (dry weight per unit laminar area) at leaf unfoldingis three times higher in the eighth leaf than in the first leafproduced. Intermediate leaves exhibit a trend between the twoThe change in specific leaf weight during laminar expansionis greatest in leaf 1 and least (sometimes zero) in leaf 8.Large changes in specific leaf weight during laminar expansionare associated with a large degree of palisade cell expansion,while leaves showing smaller rates of change have less palisadecell expansion but cell division is more evident. At leaf unfoldingthe fraction I protein content per unit laminar area is higherin upper than in lower leaves. Ribulose diphosphate carboxylaseactivity per unit laminar area and ¹⁴CO₂ fixation per unit laminararea have a similar pattern of development in all leaves andshow no correlation with the changes in specific leaf weight.The peak of activity in all leaves occurs when the laminar areais 10 cm². These results are compared with previous data onlaminar expansion and are seen as in accord with current ideason leaf growth.