Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Cell elongation in the grass pulvinus in response to geotropic stimulation and auxin application

  • Published:
Planta Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

Horizontally-placed segments of Avena sativa L. shoots show a negative geotropic response after a period of 30 min. This response is based on cell elongation on the lower side of the leaf-sheath base (pulvinus). Triticum aestivum L., Hordeum vulgare L. and Secale cereale L. also show geotropic responses that are similar to those in Avena shoots. The pulvinus is a highly specialized organ with radial symmetry and is made up of epidermal, vascular, parenchymatous and collenchymatous tissues. Statoliths, which are confined to parenchyma cells around the vascular bundles, sediment towards the gravitational field within 10–15 min of geotropic stimulation. Collenchymatous cells occur as prominent bundle caps, and in Avena, they occupy about 30% of the volume of the pulvinus. Geotropic stimulation causes a 3- to 5-fold increase in the length of the cells on the side nearest to the center of the gravitational field. Growth can also be initiated in vertically-held pulvini by the application of indole-3-acetic acid, 1-naphthaleneacetic acid or 2.4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid. 2.3.5.-triiodobenzoic acid interferes with growth response produced by geotropic stimulation as well as with the response caused by auxin application. Gibberellic acid and kinetin have no visible effect on the growth of the pulvinus. Polarization microscopy shows a unique, non-uniform stretching of the elongating collenchymatous cells. Nonelongated collenchymatous cells appear uniformally anisotropic. After geotropic stimulation or auxin application, they appear alternately anisotropic and almost isotropic. Such a pattern of cell elongation is also observed in collenchyma cells of geotropically-stimulated shoots of Rumex acetosa L., a dicotyledon.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

Abbreviations

2.4-D:

2.4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid

GA3 :

gibberellic acid

IAA:

indole-3-acetic acid

NAA:

l-naphthaleneacetic acid

TIBA:

2.3.5-triiodobenzoic acid

References

  • Anderson, D.B.: Über die Struktur der Kollenchymzellwand auf Grund mikrochemischer Untersuchungen. S.-B. Akad. Wiss. Wien, KI. Math. Naturwiss. 136, 429–439 (1927)

    Google Scholar 

  • Arslan, N., Bennet-Clark, T.A.: Geotropic behaviour of grass nodes. J. exp. Bot. 11, 1–12 (1960)

    Google Scholar 

  • Beer, M., Setterfield, G.: Fine structure in thickened primary walls of collenchyma cells of celery peteoles. Amer. J. Bot. 45, 571–580 (1958)

    Google Scholar 

  • Bridges, I.G., Wilkins, M.B.: Growth initiation in the geotropic response of the wheat node. Planta (Berl.) 112, 191–200 (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  • Brown, W.V., Pratt, G.A., Mobley, H.M.: Grass morphology and systematics. II. The nodal pulvinus. Southw. Naturalist 4, 126–130 (1959)

    Google Scholar 

  • Czaja, A.T.: Neue Untersuchungen über die Struktur der partiellen Wandverdickungen von faserförmigen Kollenchymzellen. Planta (Berl.) 56, 109–124 (1961)

    Google Scholar 

  • Duchaigne, A.: Les divers types de collenchymes chez les Dicotyledonés: leur ontogénie et leur lignification. Ann. Sci. nat., Bot., Sér. 11 16, 455–479 (1955)

    Google Scholar 

  • Esau, K.: Plant anatomy, 2nd edn. New York-London-Sydney: Wiley 1965

    Google Scholar 

  • Jensen, W.A.: Botanical histochemistry. San Francisco-London: Freeman 1962

    Google Scholar 

  • Kaufman, P.B.: The effects of growth substances on intercalary growth and cellular differentiation in developing internodes of Avena sativa. II. The effects of gibberellic acid. Physiol. Plantarum (Cph.) 18, 703–724 (1965)

    Google Scholar 

  • Kaufman, P.B.: Role of gibberellins in the control of intercalary growth and cellular differentiation in developing Avena internodes. Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci. 144, 191–203 (1967)

    Google Scholar 

  • Maeda, E.: The effects of growth regulators on the geotropism of the leaf sheath basal region in wheat. J. exp. Bot. 9, 343–349 (1958)

    Google Scholar 

  • Maeda, E.: Geotropic reaction of excised rice leaves. Physiol. Plantarum (Cph.) 13, 204–213 (1960)

    Google Scholar 

  • Majumdar, G.P., Preston, R.D.: The fine structure of collenchymacells in Heracleum sphondylium L. Proc. roy. Soc. B. 130, 201–217 (1942)

    Google Scholar 

  • Preston, R.D., Duckworth, R.B.: The fine structure of the cell walls of collenchyma cells in Petasites vulgaris L. Proc. Leeds Philos. Soc. 4, 343–351 (1946)

    Google Scholar 

  • Roland, J.C.: Organization de la membrane paraplasmique du collenchyme. J. Microscopy 5, 323–348 (1966)

    Google Scholar 

  • Sachs, J.: Lectures on the physiology of plants. [Engl. transln.] Oxford: Clarendon Press 1887

    Google Scholar 

  • Wardrop, A.B.: The structure of the cell wall in lignified collenchyma of Eryngium sp. (Umbelliferae). Aust. J. Bot. 17, 229–240 (1969)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Botany, University of Michigan, 48109, Ann Arbor, MI, USA

    P. Dayanandan, Frederick V. Hebard & Peter B. Kaufman

Authors
  1. P. Dayanandan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Frederick V. Hebard
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Peter B. Kaufman
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Dayanandan, P., Hebard, F.V. & Kaufman, P.B. Cell elongation in the grass pulvinus in response to geotropic stimulation and auxin application. Planta 131, 245–252 (1976). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00385422

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00385422

Keywords

Search

Navigation