Indoleacetic-acid-enhanced chloride uptake into coleoptile cells

Role of chloride ions in the promotion of auxin-induced growth of maize coleoptile segments

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

The mechanism of auxin action on ion transport in growing cells has not been determined in detail. In particular, little is known about the role of chloride in the auxin-induced growth of coleoptile cells. Moreover, the data that do exist in the literature are controversial. This study describes experiments that were carried out with maize (Zea mays) coleoptile segments, this being a classical model system for studies of plant cell elongation growth.

METHODS

Growth kinetics or growth and pH changes were recorded in maize coleoptiles using two independent measuring systems. The growth rate of the segments was measured simultaneously with medium pH changes. Membrane potential changes in parenchymal cells of the segments were also determined for chosen variants. The question of whether anion transport is involved in auxin-induced growth of maize coleoptile segments was primarily studied using anion channel blockers [anthracene-9-carboxylic acid (A-9-C) and 4,4'-diisothiocyanatostilbene-2,2'-disulphonic acid (DIDS)]. In addition, experiments in which KCl was replaced by KNO3 were also performed.

KEY RESULTS

Both anion channel blockers, added at 0·1 mm, diminished indole-3-acetic acid (IAA)-induced elongation growth by ~30 %. Medium pH changes measured simultaneously with growth indicated that while DIDS stopped IAA-induced proton extrusion, A-9-C diminished it by only 50 %. Addition of A-9-C to medium containing 1 mm KCl did not affect the characteristic kinetics of IAA-induced membrane potential changes, while in the presence of 10 mm KCl the channel blocker stopped IAA-induced membrane hyperpolarization. Replacement of KCl with KNO3 significantly decreased IAA-induced growth and inhibited proton extrusion. In contrast to the KCl concentration, the concentration of KNO3 did not affect the growth-stimulatory effect of IAA. For comparison, the effects of the cation channel blocker tetraethylammonium chloride (TEA-Cl) on IAA-induced growth and proton extrusion were also determined. TEA-Cl, added 1 h before IAA, caused reduction of growth by 49·9 % and inhibition of proton extrusion.

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that Cl(-) plays a role in the IAA-induced growth of maize coleoptile segments. A possible mechanism for Cl(-) uptake during IAA-induced growth is proposed in which uptake of K(+) and Cl(-) ions in concert with IAA-induced plasma membrane H(+)-ATPase activity changes the membrane potential to a value needed for turgor adjustment during the growth of maize coleoptile cells.

Regulation of nutrient transfer between host and fungus in vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizas

Although the overwhelming majority of non-aquatic vascular plants form vesicular-arbuscular (VA) mycorrhizal associations, the extent of colonization of the host root by any given fungal symbiont varies considerably depending on host and environmental factors. Because VA mycorrhizal fungi are obligate biotrophs, transfer of photosynthate from host to fungus may be an important factor in regulating the extent of VA mycorrhizal formation. Host metabolites must cross the plasma membrane before becoming available to the fungus. Several studies on rates of root exudation under various environmental conditions show a strong correlation between rates of root exudation and percent of root length colonized by VA mycorrhizal fungi. However, passive leakage of simple metabolites from roots as the sole means of regulating fungal colonization seems improbable for an obligate biotroph which has not yet been successfully cultured on any artificial medium. So far there has been insufficient investigation of hormone interactions between symbionts, and of the interference by the fungus in host cell wall synthesis, to evaluate the possible role of these factors in controlling growth of VA mycorrhizal fungi. Cytochemical studies of the host-fungus interface suggest modification of host plasma membrane ATPase activity as arbuscules develop, but the function of this altered activity remains unresolved. The presence of a linked P₁ -photosynthate exchange mechanism on the host plasma membrane analogous to the P₁ -photosynthate translocator known to exist in the outer membrane of chloroplasts remains an uninvestigated possible mechanism for balancing photosynthate demand by the fungus with enhanced P uptake.

Changing fatty acid composition during somatic embryogenesis in cultures of Daucus carota

The fatty acid composition of five embryo stages following the induction of embryogenesis in cultures of Daucus carota have been studied. Quantitative rather than qualitative changes in fatty acid content were observed, although globular embryos do possess some fatty acids of long (C 20 and above) chain length not observed in earlier or later stages in development. The major fatty acids present were C 16:0, 18:0, 18:1, 18:2 and 18:3.