Plasmolysis of Pteridium protoplasts: A study using light and scanning-electron microscopy
1Department of Botany, University of Manchester, M13 9PL, Manchester, UK.
Planta
|November 19, 2013
Summary
Plasmolysis in Pteridium aquilinum gametophytes reveals smooth protoplast surfaces, indicating strong cell wall adhesion. This adhesion limits membrane folding, impacting protoplast behavior during plasmolysis.
Area of Science:
- Plant Cell Biology
- Fern Gametophyte Research
Background:
- Plasmolysis is a critical process in plant cell biology.
- Understanding protoplast behavior during plasmolysis is key to cell wall interactions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of plasmolysis on the surface topography of Pteridium aquilinum protoplasts.
- To explore the relationship between protoplast membrane and cell wall during plasmolysis.
Main Methods:
- Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) for observing non-isolated plasmolysed protoplast surfaces.
- Light microscopy with differential interference contrast and UV fluorescence microscopy (after fluorescein diacetate staining).
- Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) to identify protoplasmic threads.
Main Results:
- SEM revealed smooth plasmolysed protoplast surfaces without membrane wrinkling.
- Evidence of strong protoplasm adhesion to the cell wall, forming irregular shapes and networks.
- TEM identified some protoplasmic threads as plasmodesmata and others as cell-wall contact points.
Conclusions:
- Strong protoplast adhesion to the cell wall minimizes membrane availability for vesicle formation during plasmolysis.
- Protoplasmic threads observed are indicative of cell wall-protoplast interactions.
- SEM provides a valuable method for studying non-isolated plasmolysed cells.
Related Concept Videos
02:32Plasmodesmata
30.0K
The organs in a multicellular organism’s body are made up of tissues formed by cells. To work together cohesively, cells must communicate. One way that cells communicate is through direct contact with other cells. The points of contact that connect adjacent cells are called intercellular junctions.
30.0K
01:20Plasmodesmata
3.8K
In a multicellular organism, cells must communicate to work together in a coordinated manner. One way that cells communicate is through direct contact with other cells. The points of contact that connect adjacent cells are called intercellular junctions.
Intercellular junctions are a feature of fungal, plant, and animal cells. However, different types of junctions are found in different kinds of cells. Intercellular junctions found in animal cells include tight junctions, gap junctions, and...
Intercellular junctions are a feature of fungal, plant, and animal cells. However, different types of junctions are found in different kinds of cells. Intercellular junctions found in animal cells include tight junctions, gap junctions, and...
3.8K
00:53Tonicity in Plants
54.0K
Tonicity describes the capacity of a cell to lose or gain water. It depends on the quantity of solute that does not penetrate the membrane. Tonicity delimits the magnitude and direction of osmosis and results in three possible scenarios that alter the volume of a cell: hypertonicity, hypotonicity, and isotonicity. Due to differences in structure and physiology, tonicity of plant cells is different from that of animal cells in some scenarios.
54.0K