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The microtubular cytoskeleton in cells of cold-treated roots of maize (Zea mays L.) shows tissue-specific responses

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Summary

Microtubules (MTs) in cells of various tissues at different distances from the apex of the maize root exhibited different sensitivities to cold (5 °C), as judged by MT reorientation and tendency to depolymerization. Their responses seem to be related to their initial intracellular arrangements. Generally, MTs in cells which were ceasing elongation were the least sensitive during the early stages (6–24 h) of cold treatment, but during the later stages (5–7 d) MTs in most of these cells eventually depolymerized. Pericycle cells showed a unique cold response. Here the MTs were conspicuously cold-labile and quickly depolymerized near the root-tip. However, after 1 d many pericycle cells in more proximal regions had repolymerized their MTs as dense, randomly organized arrays. These persisted for the remainder of the cold treatment. A similar resistance to longterm chilling, by means of MT repolymerization, was found in cells of the root cap, quiescent centre and cells of the distal part of the former meristem. MT repolymerization in the cold may enable the apex to resume growth when more favourable (warmer) conditions return.

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Abbreviations

DAPI:

4′,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole

DMSO:

dimethylsulfoxide

EGTA:

ethylene glycol-bis(β-aminoethylether)-N,N,N′,N′-tetraacetic acid

FITC:

fluorescein isothiocyanate

IgG:

immunoglobulin G

MT:

microtubule

PEG:

polyethylene glycol

PIPES:

piperazine-N,N′-bis(diethanesulfonic acid)

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Botany, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava

    F. Baluška

  2. Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Bristol, AFRC Institute of Arable Crops Research, Long Ashton Research Station, 18 9AF, Bristol, BS, UK

    F. Baluška, J. S. Parker & P. W. Barlow

Authors
  1. F. Baluška
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  2. J. S. Parker
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  3. P. W. Barlow
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Baluška, F., Parker, J.S. & Barlow, P.W. The microtubular cytoskeleton in cells of cold-treated roots of maize (Zea mays L.) shows tissue-specific responses. Protoplasma 172, 84–96 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01379366

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01379366

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