Differentiation of plant graviperceiving and graviresponding cells in altered gravity
Abstract
A main goal of our work was to compare the anatomy and ultrastructure of a root cap, including statocytes (graviperceiving cells), and a root proper meristem and elongation zone (graviresponding cells) of Beta vulgaris seedlings grown in the control and under clinorotation as a root apex is a very convenient model for the study of plant cell gravisensitivity. The comparison of the ultrastructure and topography of cell organelles clearly showed the differences in growth by elongation and differentiation in time and space between statocytes and cortex cells of the distal elongation zone (DEZ), in dependence on their main functions. A root graviperceptive apparatus develops under clinorotation but it does not function. DEZ cells reveal the highest metabolism activity in both variants that can underlie their specific physiological properties and provide cell rapid growth in the central elongation zone.
- Publication:
-
ESA Special Publication
- Pub Date:
- August 2005
- Bibcode:
- 2005ESASP.585E..48K