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A pea seed mutant affected in the differentiation of the embryonic epidermis is impaired in embryo growth and seed maturation
- Source :
- Development. 129:1595-1607
- Publication Year :
- 2002
- Publisher :
- The Company of Biologists, 2002.
-
Abstract
- During legume seed development the epidermis of the embryos differentiates into a transfer cell layer which mediates nutrient uptake during the storage phase. This specific function of the epidermal cells is acquired at the onset of embryo maturation. We investigated this process in the pea seed mutant E2748. The epidermal cells of the mutant embryo, instead of turning into transfer cells, enlarge considerably and become vacuolated and tightly associated with adjacent seed tissues. Expression of a sucrose transporter gene that is upregulated in wild-type transfer cells decreases in the mutant and changes its spatial pattern. This indicates that the outermost cell layer of mutant cotyledons cannot acquire transfer cell morphology but loses epidermal cell identity and does not function as a sucrose uptake system. Seed coat growth as well as composition, concentration and dynamics of sugars within the endospermal vacuole are unchanged. The loss of epidermal identity has severe consequences for further embryo development and is followed by disruption of the symplast within the parenchyma, the breach of the developmental gradient, lower sucrose and starch levels and initiation of callus-like growth. It is concluded that the E2748 gene controls differentiation of the cotyledonary epidermis into transfer cells and thus is required for the regional specialisation with a function in embryo nutrition.
- Subjects :
- Sucrose
Mutant
Vacuole
Biology
Genes, Plant
Gene Expression Regulation, Plant
RNA, Messenger
Molecular Biology
Plant Proteins
Epidermis (botany)
Embryogenesis
Peas
Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental
Membrane Transport Proteins
food and beverages
Symplast
Cell Differentiation
Transfer cell
Embryo
Embryonic stem cell
Cell biology
Microscopy, Electron
Biochemistry
RNA, Plant
Mutation
Seeds
Cotyledon
Developmental Biology
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 14779129 and 09501991
- Volume :
- 129
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Development
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....2db4bd3e798969dc6f25ba233bc66e96