Ultrastructural study of plasmodesmata in cork cells from Quercus variabilis Blume (Fagaceae)

Published Date
Industrial Crops and Products
March 2017, Vol.97:275–280, doi:10.1016/j.indcrop.2016.12.027
Research paper

• Author 

• Xiaozhou Song ^,
• Jingfeng Zhao

• College of Forestry, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, China

Received 25 August 2016. Revised 23 October 2016. Accepted 19 December 2016. Available online 28 December 2016. 

Highlights

• •
  Numerous plasmodesmata (PD) were firstly detected in cork from Quercus variabilis.
• •
  Plasmodesmal distribution were varied patterns.
• •
  PD were membrane-lined pores, which had simple and complex morphology.
• •
  Complex PD, showing Y- or V-shaped profile, occurred in cells corner middle lamella.
• •
  Plasmodesmal structure had plasma membrane, cytoplasmic sleeve and desmotubule.

Abstract

Cork cells from Quercus variabilis Blume were examined with transmission electron microscopy to detect the occurrence of plasmodesmata (PD). Ultrastructural analysis revealed the distribution, morphology and internal structure of PD in cork. PD were membrane-lined channels and there were numerous PD through the adjacent cork cells, which established symplastic communication pathway in the phellem tissue. Plasmodesmal distribution varied from uniformly distributed individual plasmodesma to random arrangements or discrete groups. The simple and complex morphology of PD were observed in neighboring cork cells. The desmotubule was in the centre of PD and an electron-opaque centre within the desmotubule was a proteinaceous central rod. The desmotubule of some PD exhibited conspicuous constriction in the suberized layer of the secondary wall of adjacent cells and expanded central zone in the compound middle lamella. Calotte deposition with higher electron density accumulated inside the cell at the aperture was found at the end of some PD channels.

Graphical abstract

Keywords

• Quercus variabilis blume
• Cork
• Symplastic communication
• Plasmodesmata
• Ultrastructure
• Desmotubule

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• ⁎ 
  Corresponding author at: No. 3 Taicheng Road, College of Forestry, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, China.

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