Organ-specific invertase deficiency in the primary root of an inbred maize line

An organ-specific invertase deficiency affecting only the primary root system is described in the Oh 43 inbred maize (Zea mays). Invertases (acid and neutral/soluble and insoluble) were assayed in various tissues of hybrid (NK 508) and inbred (Oh 43, W 22) maize lines to determine the basis for an early report that Oh 43 root tips were unable to grow on sucrose agar (27). Substantial acid invertase activity (7.3 to 16.1 micromoles of glucose per milligram of protein per hour) was evident in extracts of all tissues tested except the primary root system of Oh 43. This deficiency was also evident in lateral roots arising from the primary root. In contrast, morphologically identical lateral roots from the adventitious root system had normal invertase levels. These results suggest that ontogenetic origin of root tissues is an important determinant of invertase expression in maize. Adventitious roots (including the seminals) arise above the scutellar node and are, therefore, of shoot origin. The Oh 43 deficiency also demonstrated that invertase activity was not essential for maize root growth. Sucrose synthase was active in extracts from all root apices and theoretically provided the only available avenue for sucrose degradation in primary root tips of Oh 43. The deficiency described here will provide a useful avenue of investigation into the expression and significance of root invertase.