Summary
The three-dimensional structure of uninfected tissue in the central infected region of soybean nodules has been studied using several methods. Transverse and longitudinal sections have been examined. A view of the surface of the central region has been obtained by partially clearing nodules and removing their cortex. A three-dimensional reconstruction of the central region has been assembled using transverse sections. It was found that some of the uninfected cells participate in forming characteristic structural aggregates. A centrally located spherical region with a diameter half that of the entire infected region is filled with interconnected aggregates of uninfected cells. A set of branching interconnected planes of uninfected cells emanate from the sphere and extend out to the surface of the infected region. The planes are oriented generally in a longitudinal direction but are sometimes at other angles. These planes divide the nodule into compartments of various sizes and shapes. The planes are perforated by irregularly shaped groups of infected cells. Uninfected cells also often occur arranged in lines oriented approximately radially in the central region. Irregularly shaped fine aggregates of uninfected cells occur outside the central sphere formation and are interconnected by narrow lines of uninfected cells. All of these types of formations could provide uninfected paths all or part of the way from the center of the central region to the cortex. The planes and lines often contain uninfected cells elongated perpendicular to the surface of the central region, suggesting that the routes may serve in the transport of substances from the inside to the surface of the central region. The distribution of plasmodesmata also appears to favor transport from one uninfected cell to another.
Similar content being viewed by others
Abbreviations
- TER:
-
tubular endoplasmic reticulum
References
Allen ON, Allen EK (1940) Response of the peanut plant to inoculation withRhizobia, with special reference to morphological development of the nodules. Bot Gaz 102: 121–142
Bergersen FJ (1983) Root nodules of legumes: structure and functions. Wiley, New York
—,Goodchild DJ (1973) Aeration pathways in soybean root nodules. Aust J Biol Sci 26: 729–740
Bergmann H, Preddie E, Verma DPS (1983) Nodulin 35, a subunit of specific uricase: uricase II EC-1.7.3.3. induced and localized in the uninfected cells of soybean (Glycine max) nodules. EMBO J 2: 2333–2340
Berlyn GP, Miksche JP (1976) Botanical microtechnique and cytochemistry. Iowa State Univ Press, Ames
Bieberdorf FW (1938) The cytology and histology of the root nodules of some leguminosae. J Am Soc Agron 30: 375–389
Bond L (1948) Origin and developmental morphology of root nodules ofPisum sativum. Bot Gaz 109: 411–434
Brown RM, Arnott HJ (1971) A photographic method for producing true three-dimensional electron micrographs. Protoplasma 72: 105–107
Dangeard PA (1926) Recherches sur les tubercules radicaux des Legumineuses. Botaniste 16: 1–269
Fisher DB (1967) An unusual layer of cells in the mesophyll of the soybean leaf. Bot Gaz 128: 215–218
Fisher DG, Evert RF (1982) Studies on the leaf ofAmaranthus retroflexus (Amaranthaceae): ultrastructure, plasmodesmatal frequency, and solute concentration in relation to phloem loading. Planta 155: 377–387
Gaunt PN, Gaunt WA (1978) Three-dimensional reconstruction in biology. Pitman, Kent, England, p 24
Gunning BES, Pate JS, Minchin FR, Marks I (1974) Quantitative aspects of transfer cell structure in relation to vein loading in leaves and solute transport in legume nodules. Symp Soc Exp Bot 28: 87–126
—, (1976) The role of plasmodesmata in short distance transport to and from the phloem. In:Gunning BES, Robards AW (eds) Intercellular communication in plants: studies on plasmodesmata. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York, pp 203–227
Hanks JF, Schubert KR, Tolbert NE (1983) Isolation and characterization of infected and uninfected cells from soybean nodules. Plant Physiol 71: 869–873
—,Tolbert NE, Schubert KR (1981) Localization of enzymes of ureide biosynthesis in peroxisomes and microsomes of nodules. Plant Physiol 68: 65–69
Hoagland DR, Snyder WC (1933) Nutrition of strawberry plant under controlled conditions. Proc Am Soc Hort Sci 30: 288–294
Lechtova-Trnka M (1931) Etude sur les bacteries des legumineuses et observations sur quelques champignons parasites des nodosites. Botaniste 23: 301–531
Kaneko Y (1987) Ultrastructural and cytochemical studies of uninfected cells in the root nodules of soybean, bean and black locust. Ph.D. Thesis, University of Wisconsin-Madison
—,Newcomb EH (1987) Cytochemical localization of uricase and catalase in developing root nodules of soybean. Protoplasma 140: 1–12
Newcomb EH, Tandon SR (1981) Uninfected cells of soybean root nodules: ultrastructure suggests key role in ureide production. Science 212: 1394–1396
— —,Kowal RR (1985) Ultrastructural specialization for ureide production in uninfected cells of soybean root nodules. Protoplasma 125: 1–12
Newcomb W (1981) Nodule morphogenesis and differentiation. Int Rev Cytol [Suppl 13]: 247–298
—,Peterson RL (1979) The occurrence and ontogeny of transfer cells associated with lateral roots and root nodules in Leguminosae. Can J Bot 57: 2583–2602
Pate JS (1976) Transport in symbiotic systems fixing nitrogen. In:Luttge U, Pitman MG (eds) Encyclopedia of plant physiology, new series, vol 2. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York, pp 278–303
—,Gunning BES, Briarty LG (1969) Ultrastructure and functioning of the transport system of the leguminous root nodule. Planta 85: 11–34
Schubert KR (1986) Products of biological nitrogen fixation in higher plants: synthesis, transport, and metabolism. Ann Rev Plant Physiol 37: 539–574
Selker JML, Newcomb EH (1985) Spatial relationships between uninfected and infected cells in root nodules of soybean. Planta 165: 446–454
Spurr AR (1969) A low-viscosity epoxy resin embedding medium for electron microscopy. J Ultrastruct Res 26: 31–43
Suganuma N, Kitou M, Yamamoto Y (1987) Carbon metabolism in relation to cellular organization of soybean root nodules and respiration of mitochondria aided by leghemoglobin. Plant Cell Physiol 28: 113–122
Van den Bosch KA (1986) Light and electron microscopic visualization of uricase by immunogold labelling of sections of resinembedded soybean nodules. J Microsc 143: 187–197
Van den Bosch KA, Newcomb EH (1986) Immunogold localization of nodule-specific uricase in developing soybean root nodules. Planta 167: 425–436
Webb MA, Newcomb EH (1987) Cellular compartmentation of ureide biogenesis in root nodules of cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.]. Planta 172: 162–175
Weston GD, Cass DD (1973) Observations on the development of the paraveinal mesophyll of soybean leaves. Bot Gaz 134: 232–235
Wylie RB (1939) Relations between tissue organization and vein distribution in dicotyledon leaves. Am J Bot 26: 219–225
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Selker, J.M.L. Three-dimensional organization of uninfected tissue in soybean root nodules and its relation to cell specialization in the central region. Protoplasma 147, 178–190 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01403346
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01403346