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Methyl jasmonate disrupts shoot formation in tobacco thin cell layers by over-inducing mitotic activity and cell expansion

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Abstract

The aim of the present study was to determine early cyto-histological events associated with the reduced number of shoots formed at the end of culture in tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) thin cell layers treated with methyl jasmonate (MJ) [S. Biondi et al. (2001) J Exp Bot 52:1–12]. The results show that 0.1–10 μM MJ strongly stimulated mitotic activity early in culture relative to untreated controls. Treatment with MJ also induced anomalous mitoses. Enhanced proliferative growth was confirmed by northern analysis and in situ hybridisation using cDNA probes of the G1/S phase-specific genes ubiquitin carboxyl-extension protein (ubi-CEP), topoisomerase 1 (top1) and ribonucleotide reductase (RNR). The formation of meristematic cell clusters on day 5 was also enhanced by 1 μM MJ, but subsequent development of these cell clusters into meristemoids and shoot primordia was reduced by all MJ concentrations in a dose-dependent manner. Cell expansion was stimulated by MJ concentrations ranging from 0.001 to 10 μM; expanded cells frequently occurred around and within meristemoids and shoot primordia, and displayed thickened and suberised cell walls; cell wall thickness increased with increasing MJ concentration. These cytological events caused alterations in the tunica and stem differentiation of the shoot dome. The apparently paradoxical role of MJ, which deregulates shoot formation through a stimulation of growth events, i.e., mitotic activity and cell expansion, is discussed.

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Abbreviations

DP :

Deep parenchyma

IAA :

Indole-3-acetic acid

JA :

Jasmonic acid

MCC :

Meristematic cell cluster

MJ :

Methyl jasmonate

MP :

Middle parenchyma

SC :

Subepidermal chlorenchyma

TCL :

Thin cell layer

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Acknowledgements

We are grateful to Marie-Edith Chabouté (Institut de Biologie Moléculaire des Plantes du C.N.R.S., Univ. Louis Pasteur, Strasbourg, France) for supplying the tobacco RNR probe and to Nilla Pelucchi (Dipartimento di Biologia, Università di Milano, Italy) for preparing the digoxigenin-labelled sense and antisense RNA probes for top1 and RNR. This work was supported by funds from the Progetti Ateneo of Università La Sapienza (Roma, Italy) to M.M.A., and from the Dipartimento di Biologia, Università di Bologna (ex-60% funds) to S.B. We are indebted to Emanuela Zega and Sonia Scaramagli for technical support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dipartimento di Biologia Vegetale, Università di Roma “La Sapienza”, 00185, Rome, Italy

    F. Capitani, G. Falasca & M. M. Altamura

  2. Dipartimento di Biologia, Università di Bologna, Bologna, Italy

    S. Biondi, V. Ziosi & P. Torrigiani

  3. Dipartimento di Genetica e Microbiologia, Università di Pavia, Pavia, Italy

    A. Balestrazzi & D. Carbonera

Authors
  1. F. Capitani
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  2. S. Biondi
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  3. G. Falasca
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  4. V. Ziosi
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  5. A. Balestrazzi
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  6. D. Carbonera
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  7. P. Torrigiani
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  8. M. M. Altamura
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Correspondence to M. M. Altamura.

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Capitani, F., Biondi, S., Falasca, G. et al. Methyl jasmonate disrupts shoot formation in tobacco thin cell layers by over-inducing mitotic activity and cell expansion. Planta 220, 507–519 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00425-004-1362-y

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