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Structure characteristics and function of maize endosperm transfer cells

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Abstract

Endosperm transfer cells develop wall ingrowths to enlarge plasma membrane area and facilitate nutrient transport. In order to clarify structure characteristics and changes of maize endosperm transfer cells, the different developmental stages of the maize fruits (caryopses) were investigated using different types of microscopy. The results indicated that (1) Maize endosperm transfer cells exhibited spatial and temporal organizational characteristics. The transfer cells of endosperm at polar end developed wall ingrowths close to maternal transport tissues. The initial wall ingrowths developed in the outermost layer were very dense, but the initial wall ingrowths formed later in the inner layers were few. Endosperm transfer cells degenerated first in the inner layers and subsequently the outermost layer. (2) Except wall ingrowths, the cell inner structures underwent degeneration to reduce resistant of nutrient transport. (3) The occurrence of many mitochondria in the developing endosperm transfer cells probably supplied energy for wall material synthesis of wall ingrowths and solute exchange of plasma membrane outlining beneath the wall ingrowths. (4) The endosperm transfer cell development could be influenced by the caryopsis vascular system and the placentochalaza via the sugar level control. (5) The endosperm transfer cell development was coordinated with the growth of caryopsis, embryo, and starchy endosperm. Thus, we concluded that endosperm transfer cells played a very important part in maize caryopsis growth and their development was affected by maternal transport tissues and filial sink tissues.

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Abbreviations

DAP:

Days after pollination

I2–IK:

Iodine-potassium iodide

TTC:

Triphenyltetrazolium chloride

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 31270228 and No. 31461143105, 31271641, 31471438) to Yunjie Gu and Jianchang Yang, the National Basic Research Program (973 Program, 2012CB114306), and the Priority Academic Program Development of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions to Jianchang Yang and the Postdoctoral Foundation of China (Grant No. 2014M550311) to Yankun Zheng.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Physiology/Co-Innovation Center for Modern Production Technology of Grain Crops, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009, China

    Yankun Zheng, Jianchang Yang, Zhong Wang & Yunje Gu

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  1. Yankun Zheng
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  2. Jianchang Yang
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  3. Zhong Wang
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  4. Yunje Gu
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Correspondence to Zhong Wang.

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Zheng, Y., Yang, J., Wang, Z. et al. Structure characteristics and function of maize endosperm transfer cells. Braz. J. Bot 38, 669–678 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40415-015-0163-9

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