Sieve Elements: The Favourite Habitat of Phytoplasmas

The sieve elements are the only plant compartments, where phytoplasmas can survive and propagate. Therefore, this chapter is focussed on the specific molecular and cell-biological properties of the sieve element. Sieve element-companion cell complexes arise from (pro)cambial mother cells induced by key genes known to be decisive for sieve-element differentiation. The special anatomy, cell biology, and plasma-membrane outfit of sieve elements allows them to act collectively as a tube system that is able to drive a mass flow against the flow induced by transpiration. Plasmodesmal corridors are vital for the translocation of photoassimilates and systemic signals and for survival of the enucleate sieve elements. Of paramount importance is the Ca²⁺-dependent gating of plasmodesmata by callose and proteins. Hence, some of the complex, regulatory mechanisms to maintain Ca²⁺ homoeostasis in sieve elements are presented. Finally, the peculiarities of the chemical and physical sieve-element environment offered to phytoplasmas are discussed.