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Updated: Apr 19, 2026

Examination of Drosophila Larval Tracheal Terminal Cells by Light Microscopy
Published on: July 9, 2013
Cellular interactions during tracheary elements formation and function
Delphine Ménard1, Edouard Pesquet1
1Umeå Plant Science Centre (UPSC), Department of Plant Physiology, Umeå University, S-901 87 Umeå, Sweden.
Abstract:
The survival of higher plant species on land depends on the development and function of an efficient vascular system distributing water and minerals absorbed by roots to all aerial organs. This conduction and distribution of plant sap relies on specialized cells named tracheary elements (TEs). In contrast to many other cell types in plants, TEs are functionalized by cell death that hollows the cell protoplast to make way for the sap. To maintain a stable conducting function during plant development, recovery from vascular damages as well as to adapt to environmental changes, TEs are completely dependent on direct cellular interactions with neighboring xylem parenchyma cells (XPs).
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