Sucrose-Caused Changes in the Frequency and Localization of Anticlinal Divisions in the Cambial Zone of Silver Birch

This study continues our previous experiments intended to elucidate the role of sucrose in a figured wood formation in silver birch (Betula pendula Roth var. carelica). The purpose of the study was the investigation of the role of sucrose in the regulation of cell division in the cambial zone. Using an earlier-developed technique, sucrose solutions of different concentrations have been delivered into trunk tissues of silver birch. A microscopic analysis of samples collected 28 days after the beginning of the experiment has shown that an increased sucrose concentration in an exogenous solution causes an increase in the frequency of anticlinal cell divisions in the cambial zone. In the case of high sucrose concentrations (10 or 20%), the zone of anticlinal divisions is significantly wider than in variants with low sucrose concentrations, since anticlinal divisions are observed on both phloem and xylem sides and at a larger distance from rays. A comparison of the obtained results with the previous experiments shows that the increased frequency of anticlinal divisions in cambial cells observed in the case of application of 10 or 20% sucrose solutions coincides with an increased parenchymatization of tissues. A revealed localization of anticlinal divisions within the cambial zone indicates that, in the case of the exogenous sucrose uptake, the morphogenesis of conductive tissues in silver birch (Betula pendula Roth var. pendula) occurs in the same way as in Karelian birch (Betula pendula Roth var. carelica). Data presented in this paper agree with the earlier hypothesis that the formation of figured wood similar to that of Karelian birch occurs due to increased sucrose content in trunk tissues.