A study of phloem sieve element structure using electron, fluorescent, and confocal microscopy

1991 ◽  
Vol 49 ◽  
pp. 202-203
Author(s):  
Richard D. Sjolund ◽  
Chi Wang
Keyword(s):  
Cell Walls ◽  
Higher Plants ◽  
Post Injury ◽  
Long Distance ◽  
Callose Deposition ◽  
Sieve Elements ◽  
Long Distance Transport ◽  
P Protein ◽  
Sieve Tubes ◽  
Distance Transport

Phloem sieve elements are the cells responsible for the long distance transport of nutrients, primarily sugars and amino acids, in higher plants. The translocation of nutrients in these cells, joined together to form long sieve tubes, is dependent on the development of high hydrostatic pressures (20 bars or higher). The dissection of plant tissues containing these phloem cells which is necessary for microscopic study usually results in the cutting of the sieve elements and a resultant loss of phloem contents due to the explosive release of the hydrostatic pressure. Wound-sealing mechanisms involving P-protein filaments and callose deposition in the cell walls rapidly seal off wound sites and prevent the loss of translocates, especially in Angiosperms. As a result, most electron microscope images of sieve elements obtained from plant organs reveal post-injury structure following wounding.

The Fine Structure of Phloem Cells

1985 ◽  
Vol 43 ◽  
pp. 632-635
Author(s):  
James Cronshaw
Keyword(s):  
Structural Studies ◽  
High Concentration ◽  
Long Distance ◽  
Phloem Tissue ◽  
Sieve Elements ◽  
Long Distance Transport ◽  
P Protein ◽  
Companion Cells ◽  
Electron Microscopical ◽  
Distance Transport

Long distance transport in plants takes place in phloem tissue which has characteristic cells, the sieve elements. At maturity these cells have sieve areas in their end walls with specialized perforations. They are associated with companion cells, parenchyma cells, and in some species, with transfer cells. The protoplast of the functioning sieve element contains a high concentration of sugar, and consequently a high hydrostatic pressure, which makes it extremely difficult to fix mature sieve elements for electron microscopical observation without the formation of surge artifacts. Despite many structural studies which have attempted to prevent surge artifacts, several features of mature sieve elements, such as the distribution of P-protein and the nature of the contents of the sieve area pores, remain controversial.

The fine structure of corn phloem

1972 ◽  
Vol 50 (4) ◽  
pp. 839-846 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. P. Singh ◽  
L. M. Srivastava
Keyword(s):  
Fine Structure ◽  
Long Distance ◽  
Sieve Elements ◽  
Long Distance Transport ◽  
P Protein ◽  
Companion Cells ◽  
Parenchyma Cells ◽  
Vascular Parenchyma ◽  
Predominant Orientation ◽  
Distance Transport

The differentiation of sieve elements, companion cells, and vascular parenchyma in leaf bundles of corn is described. The sieve elements have plastids with distinctive crystalline inclusions, lack P-protein, and have nacreous walls in which the predominant orientation of microfibrils seems to be at right angles to the length of the cell. The companion and vascular parenchyma cells have numerous, well-developed mitochondria. These and other results are discussed in relation to long distance transport in the sieve elements.

PLASMODESMAL MODIFICATIONS AND DISTRIBUTION OF TOSPO VIRUS IN POTATO AND TOMATO

1999 ◽  
Vol 47 (4) ◽  
pp. 245-250 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ishwar D. Garg ◽  
S.M. Paul Khurana
Keyword(s):  
Long Distance ◽  
Phloem Tissue ◽  
Cortical Cells ◽  
Electron Dense Material ◽  
Phloem Parenchyma ◽  
Long Distance Transport ◽  
Infected Tomato ◽  
Sieve Tubes ◽  
The One ◽  
Distance Transport

The tospovirus isolate on tomato was found to be systemic while the one on potato was non-systemic. The virus was present in all the tissues except xylem vessels in tomato, while it was often found only in the cortical cells of potato stems. Virions were detected in all cells of phloem tissue in tomato, while none were present in the case of potato. Plasmodesmata were present between phloem parenchyma and the phloem sieve tubes in infected tomato but none were present in infected potato. There were pronounced plasmodesmal changes in response to infection in tomato. These included dissolution of the desmotubule (central rod-like structure), making the plasmodesmata pore-like structures with a diameter of ca. 45 nm, which contained electron-dense material, presumably ribonucleoprotein of the virus. No such changes were found in infected potato. These results of comparative studies suggested that the virus was non-systemic in potato due to its non-loading into the phloem and consequently lacked long distance transport.

scholarly journals Regulation of Sulfur Homeostasis in Mycorrhizal Maize Plants Grown in a Fe-Limited Environment

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (9) ◽  
pp. 3249
Author(s):  
Styliani N. Chorianopoulou ◽  
Petros P. Sigalas ◽  
Niki Tsoutsoura ◽  
Anastasia Apodiakou ◽  
Georgios Saridis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Higher Plants ◽  
Expression Patterns ◽  
Soluble Form ◽  
Mycorrhizal Symbiosis ◽  
Sulfur Deprivation ◽  
Long Distance ◽  
Sulfate Anion ◽  
Long Distance Transport ◽  
Maize Plants ◽  
Distance Transport

Sulfur is an essential macronutrient for growth of higher plants. The entry of the sulfate anion into the plant, its importation into the plastids for assimilation, its long-distance transport through the vasculature, and its storage in the vacuoles require specific sulfate transporter proteins. In this study, mycorrhizal and non-mycorrhizal maize plants were grown for 60 days in an S-deprived substrate, whilst iron was provided to the plants in the sparingly soluble form of FePO4. On day 60, sulfate was provided to the plants. The gene expression patterns of a number of sulfate transporters as well as sulfate assimilation enzymes were studied in leaves and roots of maize plants, both before as well as after sulfate supply. Prolonged sulfur deprivation resulted in a more or less uniform response of the genes’ expressions in the roots of non-mycorrhizal and mycorrhizal plants. This was not the case neither in the roots and leaves after the supply of sulfur, nor in the leaves of the plants during the S-deprived period of time. It is concluded that mycorrhizal symbiosis modified plant demands for reduced sulfur, regulating accordingly the uptake, distribution, and assimilation of the sulfate anion.

De l'utilisation du lanthane comme traceur de la voie apoplastique chez Cystoseira nodicaulis (Fucales, Cystoseiraceae)

1991 ◽  
Vol 69 (1) ◽  
pp. 18-25 ◽  
Author(s):  
Liliane Pellegrini ◽  
Marie Epiard-Lahaye ◽  
Michel Penot
Keyword(s):  
Cell Walls ◽  
Long Distance ◽  
Long Distance Transport ◽  
Dense Deposits ◽  
Symplasmic Transport ◽  
Apoplastic Pathway ◽  
Distance Transport ◽  
Kinetics Of ◽  
Dense Marker ◽  
Over Time

Lanthanum was used as an electron-dense marker of apoplastic transport in the brown alga Cystoseira nodicaulis. A lanthanum salt, La(NO3)3, was given in seawater at the base of excised branches for 2–8 days. Lanthanum transport into two regions distant from the point of application, the base and apex of the branches, was followed over time by electron microscopy. Restricted localisation of the deposits confirmed that an apoplastic pathway exists in this alga. The kinetics of transport are slow. Dense deposits were located exclusively in the cell walls of meristoderm and cortex cells. The significance of apoplastic transport in algae is discussed in the context of long-distance transport. The existence of an apoplastic route does not exclude the occurrence of symplasmic transport, which is suggested by the numerous plasmodesmata present in the medulla. Key words: algae, apoplast, Cystoseira, lanthanum, long-distance transport.

scholarly journals Testing the Münch hypothesis of long distance phloem transport in plants

eLife ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Knoblauch ◽  
Jan Knoblauch ◽  
Daniel L Mullendore ◽  
Jessica A Savage ◽  
Benjamin A Babst ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Strong Support ◽  
Sieve Tube ◽  
Phloem Transport ◽  
Plant Tissues ◽  
Long Distance ◽  
Pressure Flow ◽  
Long Distance Transport ◽  
Sieve Tubes ◽  
Distance Transport ◽  
Source And Sink

Long distance transport in plants occurs in sieve tubes of the phloem. The pressure flow hypothesis introduced by Ernst Münch in 1930 describes a mechanism of osmotically generated pressure differentials that are supposed to drive the movement of sugars and other solutes in the phloem, but this hypothesis has long faced major challenges. The key issue is whether the conductance of sieve tubes, including sieve plate pores, is sufficient to allow pressure flow. We show that with increasing distance between source and sink, sieve tube conductivity and turgor increases dramatically in Ipomoea nil. Our results provide strong support for the Münch hypothesis, while providing new tools for the investigation of one of the least understood plant tissues.

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