Abstract.
Cellular events which occur prior to cell collapse were examined in the root cortex of rice (Oryza sativa L.) during aerenchyma formation. Cell collapse started at a specific position in the mid cortex. These cells were distinct in shape from those located towards the periphery. Furthermore, cell collapse was preceded by acidification and the loss of plasma-membrane integrity in cells of the mid cortex. Subsequent death of neighboring cells followed a radial path. Microinjection of molecules of different sizes conjugated with fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) showed a molecular exclusion limit of between 9.3 and 19.6 kDa in the root cortex. Furthermore, large molecules, i.e. those around 9.3 kDa, were predominantly transferred in a radial direction, which coincided with the path of sequential cell death.
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Received: 24 April 1997 / Accepted: 4 August 1997
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Kawai, M., Samarajeewa, P., Barrero, R. et al. Cellular dissection of the degradation pattern of cortical cell death during aerenchyma formation of rice roots. Planta 204, 277–287 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1007/s004250050257
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s004250050257