The fine structure of corn phloem

1972 ◽  
Vol 50 (4) ◽  
pp. 839-846 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. P. Singh ◽  
L. M. Srivastava

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.

Author(s):  
James Cronshaw

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.


Author(s):  
Richard D. Sjolund ◽  
Chi Wang

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.


1975 ◽  
Vol 53 (9) ◽  
pp. 861-876 ◽  
Author(s):  
Klaus Schmitz ◽  
L. M. Srivastava

Alaria marginata Postels and Ruprecht has a sieve tube system which extends through the lamina, especially the midrib, and through the stipe. The sieve elements originate from the innermost cortex cells and are nucleate, highly vacuolated cells that contain the usual cell organelles and membrane systems. The plastids and mitochondria show some special features in their morphology and fine structure. P protein is absent. Sieve pores, 0.11–0.3 μm in diameter, occur in cross walls between two sieve elements. They are lined by plasmalemma, and the cytoplasms of the two cells are interconnected through them. Long-distance transport of photo-assimilate follows the source–sink relationship; but its normal basipetal direction can be reversed by creating "artificial" sinks. Translocation velocity is in the range of 25 to 40 cm/h. The translocate consists mainly of mannitol and free amino acids, which were analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively. Double-labeling experiments with 32P and 14C indicate that inorganic ions are not translocated together with the 14C-labeled photoassimilates and probably move only by diffusion.


1965 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 185
Author(s):  
MC Wark

The companion cells of the secondary phloem of Pisum contain all the organelles characteristic of cells possessing an active metabolism. The cytoplasm of the companion cells shows little change during ontogeny. Complex plasmodesmata connect the sieve elements and companion cells. These are the only connections observed between the sieve elements and other phloem cells. New wall structures of the companion cells are described. These structures are here tentatively called trabeculae; they intrude into the cytoplasm, but never completely cross the cell. The trabeculae alter in appearance at the time when the sieve element nucleus and tonoplast disappear. The phloem parenchyma cells are large vacuolated cells wider in diameter but shorter in length than the sieve elements. They contain all the organelles found in normal photosynthetic tissue. The cytoplasm of the phloem parenchyma shows little change during ontogeny. Plasmodesmata of well-developed pit fields connect the phloem parenchyma with the companion cells. The phloem parenchyma does not communicate with the sieve elements.


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