Skip to main content
Log in

In vitro loss of nucleic acids from cells of aseptically cultured excised pea roots

  • Short Communication
  • Published:
Planta Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

Analysis of pea root tips taken from attached seedling roots and excised roots cultured in vitro has revealed major differences in cell constituents. The cells of cultured roots have only 40% and 13% of the protein and amino acid content of attached root cells. The nucleic acid content of cultured root cells was shown to be only 20% and 27% of the RNA and DNA respectively found in attached roots. It is suggested that there is excess nucleic acid in whole plant tissues above that required for transfer of genetic information necessary for normal growth and differentiation of root cells.

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

Access this article

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

Instant access to the full article PDF.

References

  • Abbott, A. J.: Changes in growth and metabolism of excised pea roots associated with iron deficiency. I. Changes in number of cells, nitrogenous constituents and respiration rate. New Phytol. 67, 947–961 (1968).

    Google Scholar 

  • Albert, L. S., Wilson, C. M.: Effect of boron on elongation of tomato root tips. Plant Physiol. (Lancaster) 36, 244–251 (1961).

    Google Scholar 

  • Dormer, K. J., Street, H. E.: Secondary thickening in excised tomato roots. Nature (Lond.) 161, 483 (1948).

    Google Scholar 

  • Heyes, J. K.: Nucleic acid changes during cell expansion in the root. Proc. roy. Soc. B 152, 218–230 (1960).

    Google Scholar 

  • Jensen, W. A.: Nucleic acid and protein content of root tip cells of Vicia faba and Allium cepa. Exp. Cell Res. 14, 575–583 (1958).

    Google Scholar 

  • Kedes, L. H., Birnstiel, M. L.: Reiteration and clustering of DNA sequences complementary to histone messenger RNA. Nature (Lond.) 230, 165–169 (1971).

    Google Scholar 

  • Ogur, M., Rosen, G.: Nucleic acids of plant tissues. I. Extraction and estimation of DNA and RNA. Arch. Biochem. 25, 262–267 (1950).

    Google Scholar 

  • Schmidt, G., Thannhauser, S. I.: Method for determination of RNA and DNA and phosphoprotein in animal tissues. J. biol. Chem. 161, 83–89 (1945).

    Google Scholar 

  • Sunderland, N., McLeish, J.: Nucleic acid content and concentration in root cells of higher plants. Exp. Cell Res. 24, 541–554 (1961).

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Abbott, A.J. In vitro loss of nucleic acids from cells of aseptically cultured excised pea roots. Planta 100, 268–271 (1971). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00387043

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00387043

Keywords

Navigation