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Anatomical changes of xylem cells in stem of Pinus radiata seedlings exposed to inclination and ethylene

  • Published:
Biologia Plantarum

Abstract

In conifers, relationship between ethylene and the response to inclination are not well understood. The aim of this work was to study the consequence for the application of 2-chloroethyl phosphonic acid (ethephon), compound able to release ethylene, in one-year-old Pinus radiata D. Don seedlings subjected to inclination. In plants exposed to inclination for 15 d, increase in thickness of cell walls, more rounded shape of xylem cells, and accumulation of lignin were observed. Ethephon application accelerated significantly these changes; they can be observed after 5 d of inclination. The quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) showed up-regulation of transcripts from genes encoding phenylalanine ammonia lyase and cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase after inclination and their possible ethylene signal-dependence. As conclusion, morphological changes on stem xylem cells in young seedlings of radiata pine exposed to inclination are similar to those observed in compression wood and they are influenced by ethephon application.

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Abbreviations

ACC:

1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid

CAD:

cinnamylalcohol dehydrogenase

CW:

compression wood

ethephon:

2-chloroethyl phosphonic acid

PAL:

phenylalanineammonia lyase

qPCR:

quantitative polymerase chain reaction

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Instituto Biología Vegetal y Biotecnología, Universidad de Talca, 2 Norte 685, Talca, Chile

    P. Ramos & R. Herrera

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  1. P. Ramos
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  2. R. Herrera
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Correspondence to R. Herrera.

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Acknowledgment: This research was supported by DI-Universidad de Talca and Fondecyt N° 1120635. P.R. was supported by postdoctoral PBCT-PSD61 project.

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Ramos, P., Herrera, R. Anatomical changes of xylem cells in stem of Pinus radiata seedlings exposed to inclination and ethylene. Biol Plant 57, 525–530 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10535-013-0321-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10535-013-0321-5

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