Malate Transport and Metabolism in Nitrogen-Fixing Legume Nodules

Legumes form a symbiosis with rhizobia, a soil bacterium that allows them to access atmospheric nitrogen and deliver it to the plant for growth. Biological nitrogen fixation occurs in specialized organs, termed nodules, that develop on the legume root system and house nitrogen-fixing rhizobial bacteroids in organelle-like structures termed symbiosomes. The process is highly energetic and there is a large demand for carbon by the bacteroids. This carbon is supplied to the nodule as sucrose, which is broken down in nodule cells to organic acids, principally malate, that can then be assimilated by bacteroids. Sucrose may move through apoplastic and/or symplastic routes to the uninfected cells of the nodule or be directly metabolised at the site of import within the vascular parenchyma cells. Malate must be transported to the infected cells and then across the symbiosome membrane, where it is taken up by bacteroids through a well-characterized dct system. The dicarboxylate transporters on the infected cell and symbiosome membranes have been functionally characterized but remain unidentified. Proteomic and transcriptomic studies have revealed numerous candidates, but more work is required to characterize their function and localise the proteins in planta. GABA, which is present at high concentrations in nodules, may play a regulatory role, but this remains to be explored.

Structure and histochemistry of sorghum caryopsis in relation to grain-filling

Anatomical and histochemical studies of ovary and caryopsis of sorghum reveal the importance of the chalazal complex in transporting nutrients from maternal sources to the filial diploid embryo and triploid endosperm. The presence of starch, protein, lipid, Ca, K, Mg, and Fe in various tissues at different stages of development can be revealed by a variety of histochemical techniques. Vascular supply ends at the base of the ovary and transport occurs through vascular parenchyma, pigment strand and nucellar projection where symplastic continuity is broken. Nutrients unloaded into an apoplastic placental sac then enter the endosperm and embryo through the aleurone transfer cells. The later possess characteristic wall ingrowth. The single layer of aleurone surrounding the endosperm may also help in transport during later stages of grain-filling. Grain-filling in C4 sorghum is compared with other C4 and C3 grasses showing the variety of strategies evolved to transport nutrients into filial tissues. Standardization of terminologies to describe the tissues of the crease region will help in further research and communication.

The morphological characteristics and classification of vascular parenchyma cells in bamboo, Phyllostachys edulis (Carr.) J. Houz

Vascular parenchyma cells (VPCs) provide a critical metabolic and energetic link for xylem transport of water and mineral nutrients and phloem transport of photoassimilates. Understanding the morphology of these cells is required to understand their function. This study describes the morphology and classification of VPCs of moso bamboo by light microscopy (LM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The key results revealed that vascular parenchyma could be divided into three categories according to cell geometric morphology: cells with two transverse end walls, cells with one oblique end and one transverse end walls, and cells with two oblique end walls. Additionally, there were two types of thickening patterns of the secondary wall, uniform and reticulate thickening, and both diffuse pitting and opposite-alternate pitting were observed. The average length, width, lumen diameter, double wall thickness, and area of the VPCs were 139.0 μm, 17.3 μm, 10.4 μm, 6.9 μm, and 51.1 μm2, respectively. Most VPCs were slender and thin-walled, and growth of the VPCs was not correlated in either the length or the width directions.

Uncovering the ultrastructure of ramiform pits in the parenchyma cells of bamboo [Phyllostachys edulis (Carr.) J. Houz.]

Pits are the main transverse channels of intercellular liquid transport in bamboo. Ramiform pits are a special type of simple pit with two or more branches. However, little is known about the morphology and physiological functions of ramiform pits. The anatomy of plants can provide important evidence for the role of cells. To better understand the ultrastructure and the structure-function relationship of ramiform pits, their characteristics need to be investigated. In this study, both qualitative and quantitative features of ramiform pits were studied using field-emission environmental scanning electron microscopy (FE-ESEM). The samples included the native structures and the replica structures obtained by resin castings. The results show that the ramiform pits have a diverse morphology that can be divided into main categories: type I (the primary branches) and type II (the secondary branches). The distribution of ramiform pits is different in ground parenchyma cells (GPCs) and vascular parenchyma cells (VPCs). The number, the pit aperture diameter and the pit canal length of ramiform pits in the VPCs were, respectively, greater (3-fold), larger (2–3-fold) and shorter (1.3-fold) than those in the GPCs.

Characterization of the pits in parenchyma cells of the moso bamboo [Phyllostachys edulis (Carr.) J. Houz.] culm

The pits on parenchyma cell walls facilitate transfer of liquids between adjacent cells in the bamboo. To better understand the structure-function relationship of the pits, the structural characteristics of the pits in bamboo parenchyma cells need to be investigated. In this study, the pit structures were studied by field-emission environmental scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The samples included the native structure and the replica structure via resin castings. The results showed that the parenchyma cells possessed various shapes and the pits were diverse. Parenchyma cells exposed both simple and bordered pits. Pitting between vascular parenchyma cells (VPCs) was similar to that of the metaxylem vessel. In particular, a branched pit structure was found for the first time in the parenchyma cell.

Abscisic acid signalling determines susceptibility of bundle sheath cells to photoinhibition in high light-exposed Arabidopsis leaves

The rapid induction of the bundle sheath cell (BSC)-specific expression of ASCORBATE PEROXIDASE2 ( APX2 ) in high light (HL)-exposed leaves of Arabidopsis thaliana is, in part, regulated by the hormone abscisic acid (ABA) produced by vascular parenchyma cells. In this study, we provide more details of the ABA signalling that regulates APX2 expression and consider its importance in the photosynthetic responses of BSCs and whole leaves. This was done using a combination of analyses of gene expression and chlorophyll a fluorescence of both leaves and individual BSCs and mesophyll cells. The regulation of APX2 expression occurs by the combination of the protein kinase SnRK2.6 (OST1):protein phosphatase 2C ABI2 and a Gα (GPA1)-regulated signalling pathway. The use of an ost1-1/gpa1-4 mutant established that these signalling pathways are distinct but interact to regulate APX2 . In HL-exposed leaves, BSC chloroplasts were more susceptible to photoinhibition than those of mesophyll cells. The activity of the ABA-signalling network determined the degree of susceptibility of BSCs to photoinhibition by influencing non-photochemical quenching. By contrast, in HL-exposed whole leaves, ABA signalling did not have any major influence on their transcriptomes nor on their susceptibility to photoinhibition, except where guard cell responses were observed.

Anatomical Response of St. Augustinegrass to Aminocyclopyrachlor Treatment

Aminocyclopyrachlor (AMCP) is a synthetic auxin herbicide that controls primarily broadleaf (eudicotyledonous) weeds. Previous research indicates that St. Augustinegrass is unacceptably injured by AMCP. In light of the fact that synthetic auxin herbicides usually are safe when applied to monocotyledons, the mechanism for this injury is not fully understood. Anatomical response of St. Augustinegrass to AMCP was investigated using light microscopy. Apical meristem node tissue responded with callus tissue proliferation, abnormal location and development of the apical meristem, necrosis of the developing vascular tissue, vascular parenchyma proliferation, and xylem gum blockages. Node tissues away from the apical meristem responded with xylem gum blockages and the stimulation of lateral meristems and adventitious root formation. Root tip response to AMCP treatment was characterized by a loss of organization. Root tip apical meristem and vascular tissue maturation was disorganized. Additionally, lateral root generation occurred abnormally close to the root tip. These responses impair affected tissue functionality. Mature tissue was unaffected by AMCP treatment. All of these responses are characteristic of synthetic auxin herbicide treatment to other susceptible species. This research indicates that AMCP treatment results in St. Augustinegrass injury and subsequent death through deleterious growth stimulation and concomitant vascular inhibition.