Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Changes in the microtubular cytoskeleton precede in vitro tuber formation in potato

  • Published:
Protoplasma Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

An in vitro system for tuber formation was used to study early morphological and cytological changes occurring during tuber formation in potatoes, with special emphasis on the orientation of the microtubular cytoskeleton, visualized immunocytochemically. Axillary buds from potato plants were cultured in the presence or absence of gibberellin (GA), resulting in either tuber formation (without GA) or shoot formation (GA added). Tuber formation in the absence of GA was highly synchronous in individual buds, enabling the dissection of various aspects of tuberization. Under both conditions, starch started to accumulate. In the absence of GA, starch levels rapidly increased, concomitantly with tuber formation, whereas it slightly decreased in the presence of GA. Up to 4 days, the cortical MTs in the cells were oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the developing buds. Under tuber-inducing conditions this orientation changed into a longitudinal one at day 5. This change preceded a change in the direction of cell expansion. In the presence of GA no such reorientation was observed, cells continued to grow longitudinally, and a stoloniferous shoot was formed. The cytoskeletal changes preceded the visible swelling of the buds, observed after day 5, demonstrating that the reorientation of the microtubular cytoskeleton is one of the earliest steps observed so far in tuber formation in potatoes.

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.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Abbreviations

GA:

gibberellin

MTs:

microtubules

PBS:

phosphate buffered saline

SD:

short-day

References

  • Abe M, Shibaoka H, Yamane H, Takashaki N (1990) Cell cycledependent disruption of microtubules by methyl jasmonate in tobacco BY-2 cells. Protoplasma: 156: 1–8

    Google Scholar 

  • Barlow PW (1992) The meristem and quiescent centre in cultured root apices of the gib-1 mutant of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.). Ann Bot 69: 533–543

    Google Scholar 

  • Booth A (1963) The role of growth substances in the development of stolons. In: Ivins JD, Milthorpe FL (eds) The growth of the potato. Butterworth, London, pp 99–113

    Google Scholar 

  • Brown RC, Lemmon BE, Mullinax JB (1989) Immunofluorescent staining of microtubules in plant tissues: improved embedding and sectioning techniques using polyethylene glycol (PEG) and Steedman's wax. Bot Acta 102: 54–61

    Google Scholar 

  • Chapman HW (1958) Tuberization in the potato plant. Physiol Plant 11: 215–224

    Google Scholar 

  • Cutter EG (1978) Structure and development of the potato plant. In: Harris PM (ed) The potato crop: the scientific basis for improvement. Halsted, New York, pp 70–152

    Google Scholar 

  • Duncan DA, Ewing EE (1984) Initial anatomical changes associated with tuber formation on single-node potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) cuttings. Ann Bot 53: 607–610

    Google Scholar 

  • Fujino K, Koda Y, Kikuta Y (1995) Reorientation of cortical microtubules in the sub-apical region during tuberization in singlenode stem segments of potato in culture. Plant Cell Physiol 36: 891–895

    Google Scholar 

  • Green PB (1980) Organogenesis — a biophysical view. Annu Rev Plant Physiol 31: 51–82

    Google Scholar 

  • Gregory L (1956) Some factors for tuberization in the potato plant. Am J Bot 43: 281–288

    Google Scholar 

  • Hannapel DJ (1991) Characterization of the early events of potato tuber development. Physiol Plant 83: 568–573

    Google Scholar 

  • Hayward HE (1938) The structure of economic plants. Macmillan, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Helder H, Miersch O, Vreugdenhil D, Sembdner G (1993) Occurrence of hydroxylated jasmonic acids in leaflets ofSolanum demissum grown under long- and short-day conditions. Physiol Plant 88: 647–653

    Google Scholar 

  • Hendriks T, Vreugdenhil D, Stiekema WJ (1991) Patatin and four serine proteinase inhibitor genes are differentially expressed during potato tuber development. Plant Mol Biol 17: 385–394

    Google Scholar 

  • Hush JM, Hawes CR, Overall RL (1990) Interphase microtubule reorientation predicts a new cell polarity in wounded pea roots. J Cell Sci 96: 47–61

    Google Scholar 

  • Lang JM, Eisinger WR, Green PB (1982) Effects of ethylene on the orientation of microtubules and cellulose microfibrils of pea epicotyl cells with polylamellate cell walls. Protoplasma 110: 5–14

    Google Scholar 

  • Ledbetter MC, Porter KR (1963) A “microtubule” in plant cell fine structure. J Cell Biol 19: 239–250

    Google Scholar 

  • Lovell PH, Booth A (1967) Effects of gibberellic acid on growth, tuber formation and carbohydrate distribution inSolanum tuberosum. New Phytol 66: 525–537

    Google Scholar 

  • Matsuki T, Tazaki H, Fujimori T, Hogetsu T (1992) The influences of jasmonic acid methyl ester on microtubules in potato cells and formation of potato tubers. Biosci Biotechnol Biochem 56: 1329–1330

    Google Scholar 

  • Mita T, Shibaoka H (1984) Effects of S-3307, an inhibitor of gibberellin biosynthesis, on swelling of leaf cells and on the arrangement of cortical microtubules in onion seedlings. Plant Cell Physiol 25: 1531–1539

    Google Scholar 

  • Murashige T, Skoog F (1962) A revised medium for rapid growth and bio-assays with tobacco tissue cultures. Physiol Plant 15: 473–497

    Google Scholar 

  • Pelacho AM, Mingo-Castel AM (1991) Jasmonic acid induces tuberization of potato stolons cultured in vitro. Plant Physiol 97: 1253–1255

    Google Scholar 

  • Peterson RL, Barker WG (1979) Early tuber development from explanted stolon nodes ofSolanum tuberosum var. Kennebec. Bot Gaz 140: 398–406

    Google Scholar 

  • Roberts IN, Lloyd CW, Roberts K (1985) Ethylene-induced microtubule reorientations: mediated by helical arrays. Planta 164: 439–447

    Google Scholar 

  • Shibaoka H (1974) Involvement of wall microtubules in gibberellin promotion and kinetin inhibition of stem elongation. Plant Cell Physiol 15: 244–263

    Google Scholar 

  • — (1991) Microtubules and the regulation of cell morphogenesis by plants hormones. In: Lloyd CW (ed) The cytoskeletal basis of plant growth and form. Academic Press, London, pp 159–168

    Google Scholar 

  • — (1993) Regulation by gibberellins of the orientation of cortical microtubules in plant cells. Aust J Plant Physiol 20: 461–470

    Google Scholar 

  • Steen DA, Chadwick AV (1981) Ethylene effects in pea stem tissue. Evidence of microtubule mediation. Plant Physiol 67: 460–466

    Google Scholar 

  • Taiz L (1984) Plant cell expansion: regulation of cell wall mechanical properties. Annu Rev Plant Physiol 35: 585–657

    Google Scholar 

  • Tiwari SC, Wick SM, Williamson RE, Gunning BES (1984) Cytoskeleton and integration of cellular function in cells of higher plants. J Cell Biol 99: 63s-69s

    Google Scholar 

  • Traas J, Laufs P, Jullien M, Caboche M (1995) A mutation affecting etiolation and cell elongation inNicotiana plumbaginifolia causes abnormal division plane alignment and pattern formation in the root meristem. Plant J 7: 785–796

    Google Scholar 

  • Visser RGF, Vreugdenhil D, Hendriks T, Jacobsen E (1994) Gene expression and carbohydrate content during stolon to tuber transition in potatoes (Solanum tuberosum). Physiol Plant 90: 285–292

    Google Scholar 

  • Vreugdenhil D, Struik PC (1989) An integrated view of the hormonal regulation of tuber formation in potato (Solanum tuberosum). Physiol Plant 75: 525–531

    Google Scholar 

  • Yoshihara T, Omer EA, Koshino H, Sakamura S, Kikuta Y, Koda Y (1989) Structure of a tuber-inducing stimulus from potato leaves (Solanum tuberosum L.). Agric Biol Chem 53: 2835–2837

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Productión Agraria, Universidad Publica de Navarra, Pamplona

    María Jesús Sanz & Angel Mingo-Castel

  2. Departments of Plant Cytology and Morphology, Wageningen Agricultural University, Wageningen

    André A. M. van Lammeren

  3. Department of Plant Physiology, Wageningen Agricultural University, Arboretumlaan 4, NL-6703, BD Wageningen, The Netherlands

    Dick Vreugdenhil

Authors
  1. María Jesús Sanz
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Angel Mingo-Castel
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. André A. M. van Lammeren
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Dick Vreugdenhil
    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

Sanz, M.J., Mingo-Castel, A., van Lammeren, A.A.M. et al. Changes in the microtubular cytoskeleton precede in vitro tuber formation in potato. Protoplasma 191, 46–54 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01280824

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01280824

Keywords

Search

Navigation