Summary
Gibberellins and auxins were extracted from embryos and suspensors of Phaseolus coccineus L. at two stages of development: A) heart-shaped embryo and B) cotyledonary embryo with suspensor in the initial stage of degeneration. The time interval between the two stages was 5–6 days.
In both embryos and suspensors, gibberellin (GA)-like activity was found in three fractions: F-1 (ethyl acetate fraction at pH 8.0), F-2 (free GAs) and F-3 (bound GAs). At stage A, the total GA activity in the suspensor was about 30 times greater than in the embryo and the bound GAs contributed by about 90% to the total GA content. A dramatic decrease in level of bound GA-like substances was found in suspensors at stage B, when the level of total GAs in the embryo had increased to 10 times that at stage A. This might suggest a transport of GAs from the suspensor to the embryo. In both embryo and suspensor, qualitative changes in GAs with shift in activity of the fractions tested occurred at the two developmental stages.
The methanolic extracts of stage A suspensors showed two inhibitors, one much more active than the other, and two large peaks of growth promoting activity at Rf 0.4–0.7; in stage A embryos, the general activity of the extracts was lower and the promoting effect was spread over Rf 0.3–0.9.
The present results seem to support the view that the suspensor plays a role in embryogenesis by acting as a site of synthesis of growth regulators needed by the embryo.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
Abbreviations
- F-1:
-
ethyl acetate fraction at pH 8.0
- F-2:
-
free gibberellins
- F-3:
-
bound gibberellins
- GA:
-
gibberellic acid
- Stage A:
-
heart-shaped embryo
- stage B:
-
cotyledonary embryo with suspensor in the initial stage of degeneration
References
Aung, L. H., De Hertogh, A. A., Staby, G.: Temperature regulation of endogenous gibberellin activity and development of Tulipa gesneriana L. Plant Physiol. 44, 403–406 (1969)
Avanzi, S., Cionini, P.G., D'Amato, F.: Cytochemical and autoradiographic analyses on the embryo suspensor cells of Phaseolus coccineus. Caryologia 23, 605–638 (1970)
Avanzi, S., Durante, M., Cionini, P. G., D'Amato, F.: Cytological localization of ribosomal cistrons in polytene chromosomes of Phaseolus coccineus. Chromosoma (Berl.) 39, 191–203 (1972)
Barendse, G. W. B.: Formation of bound gibberellins in Pharbitis nil. Planta (Berl.) 99, 290–301 (1971)
Brady, T.: Activities of polytene chromosomes in Phaseolus. J. Cell Biol. 47 (2, Pt 2), 23a (1970)
Clutter, M., Brady, T., Walbot, V., Sussex, I.: Macromolecular synthesis in diploid and polytene cells in bean embryos. J. Cell Biol. 63, 1097–1102 (1974)
Corsi, G.: The suspensor of Eruca sativa Miller (Cruciferae) during embryogenesis in vitro. G. Bot. ital. 106, 41–54 (1972)
Dennis, F. G., Nitsch, J. P.: Identification of gibberellins A4 and A7 in immature apple seeds. Nature (Lond.) 211, 781–782 (1966)
Dörffling, K.: Quantitative Veränderungen des Abscisinsäuregehaltes während der Fructentwicklung von Solanum lycopersicum L. Planta (Berl.) 93, 233–242 (1970)
Gunning, B. E. S., Pate, J. S.: “Transfer cells”—plant cells with wall ingrowths specialized in relation to short distance transport of solutes—their occurrence, structure and development. Protoplasma (Wien) 68, 107–133 (1969)
Jones, R. L.: Gibberellins: their physiological role. Ann. Rev. Plant Physiol. 24, 571–598 (1973)
Jones, R. L., Varner, J. E.: The bioassay of gibberellins. Planta (Berl.) 72, 155–161 (1967)
Lang, A.: Gibberellins: structure and metabolism. Ann. Rev. Plant Physiol. 21, 537–570 (1970)
Larsen, P.: Growth substances in higher plants. In: Modern methods of plant analysis, vol. 3, p. 565–623. Paech, K., Tracey, M. U. (Eds.) Berlin-Göttingen-Heidelberg: Springer 1955
Lima-de-Faria, A., Pero, R., Avanzi, S., Durante, M., Ståhle, U., D'Amato, F., Granström, H.: Relation between ribosomal RNA genes and the DNA satellites of Phaseolus coccineus. Hereditas 79, 5–20 (1975)
Hagl, W.: Differentielle RNS-synthese an pflanzlichen Riesenchromosomen. Ber. dtsch. bot. Ges. 83, 301–309 (1970)
Nagl, W.: Gibberellinsäure-stimulierte Genaktivität im Endosperm von Phaseolus. Planta (Berl.) 96, 145–141 (1971)
Nagl, W.: The Phaseolus suspensor and its polytene chromosomes. Z. Pflanzenphysiol. 73, 1–44 (1974)
Nitsch, J. P., Nitsch, C.: Studies on the growth of coleoptile and first internode sections. A new, sensitive, straight test for auxins. Plant Physiol. 31, 94–111 (1956)
Ponzi, R., Pizzolongo, P.: The ultrastructure of suspensor cells Ipomoea purpurea Roth. J. submicr. Cytol. 4, 199–204 (1972)
Rothwell, K., Wain, R. L.: Studies on a growth inhibitor in yellow lupine (Lupinus luteus L.). In: Régulateurs naturels de la croissance végétale, p. 363–375. Paris: Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique 1964
Schreiber, K., Weiland, J., Sembdner, G.: Isolierung von Gibberellin-A8-O(3)-β-D-glucopyranosid aus Früchten von Phaseolus coccineus. Phytochemistry 9, 189–198 (1970)
Sembdner, G., Weiland, J., Aurich, O., Schreiber, K.: Isolation, structure and metabolism of a gibberellin glucoside. In: Plant growth regulators, p. 70–86. London: Society of Chemical Industry 1968
Skene, K. G. M.: The gibberellins of developing bean seeds. J. exp. Bot. 21, 236–246 (1970)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Alpi, A., Tognoni, F. & D'Amato, F. Growth regulator levels in embryo and suspensor of Phaseolus coccineus at two stages of development. Planta 127, 153–162 (1975). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00388376
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00388376