Fine structure of isolated and non-isolated potato tuber periderm

Cell walls of the periderm of native potato tuber (Solanum tuberosum L. cv. Primura) consist of a primary wall, a suberized secondary wall and a tertiary wall. With a mixture of pectinase and cellulase intact periderm membranes can be isolated. Isolation does not affect fine structure. It is suggested that the lignin in the middle lamellae and primary walls prevents the enzymes from digesting pectinaceous materials and cellulose. In specimens fixed with OsO₄, the suberized walls appear as alternating electrondense and electron-lucent lamellae. This lamellar architecture is not altered by extraction with chloroform. Therefore, the current view that the electronlucent lamellae consist of soluble lipids (waxes) can no longer be maintained. It is argued that the lamellation is a property of the suberin itself, and the suberized wall consists of alternating layers of suberins differing in polarity. A hypothesis of suberin assembly from sub-units is advanced and the subunits are shown for the first time.