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Contrast observation and investigation of wheat endosperm transfer cells and nucellar projection transfer cells

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Abstract

In cereal seed, there are no symplastic connections between the maternal tissues and the endosperm. In order to facilitate solute transport, both the nucellar projection and its opposite endosperm epithelial cells in wheat caryopsis differentiate into transfer cells. In this paper, we did contrast observation and investigation of wheat endosperm transfer cells (ETC) and nucellar projection transfer cells (NPTC). The experimental results showed that there were some similarities and differences between ETC and NPTC. ETC and NPTC almost developed synchronously. Wall ingrowths of ETC and NPTC formed firstly in the first layer nearest to the endosperm cavity, and formed later in the inner layer further from the endosperm cavity. The mature ETC were mainly three layers and the mature NPTC were mainly four layers. Wall ingrowths of ETC were flange type and wall ingrowths of NPTC were reticulate type. NPTC were not nutrient-storing cells, but the first layer of ETC had aleurone cell features, and the second layer and third layer of ETC accumulated starch granules and protein bodies.

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Abbreviations

TC:

Transfer cells

ETC:

Endosperm transfer cells

NP:

Nucellar projection

NPTC:

Nucellar projection transfer cells

DAP:

Days after pollination

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Key Laboratory of Crop Physiology and Genetics of Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China

    Yankun Zheng & Zhong Wang

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  1. Yankun Zheng
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  2. Zhong Wang
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Correspondence to Zhong Wang.

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Communicated by A.-C. Schmit.

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Zheng, Y., Wang, Z. Contrast observation and investigation of wheat endosperm transfer cells and nucellar projection transfer cells. Plant Cell Rep 30, 1281–1288 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00299-011-1039-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00299-011-1039-5

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