Spatial control of cell-wall deposition is essential for determining plant cell shape [1]. Rho-type GTPases, together with the cortical cytoskeleton, play central roles in regulating cell-wall patterning [2]. In metaxylem vessel cells, which are the major components of xylem tissues, active ROP11 Rho GTPases form oval plasma membrane domains that locally disrupt cortical microtubules, thereby d...

The proportion of embolized vessels in the veins of maize leaf laminas was measured during 24 h by direct counting in snap-frozen samples in the cryo-scanning electron microscope. All vessels were sap filled at night. Vessels of intermediate and small veins, and the small tracheary elements of lateral veins, were sap filled throughout the 24 h. The large metaxylem vessels of lateral veins were ...

Salinity is one of the most important agricultural issues causing considerable yield reduction in agricultural crops. The main adverse effects of salinity are due to excess amount of sodium ions that is toxic to plant cells. Most halophytes are equipped with defense mechanisms enabling them to tolerate the salty habitats. Among grass plants, Aeluropus littoralis is a known monocots hal...

Uricase II is a purine metabolic enzyme highly induced in root nodules during the symbiosis established between legumes and bacteria of the genera Rhizobium and Bradyrhizobium. Here we describe the characterization of bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) nodule uricase II cDNA and show that uricase II is encoded by a single gene in the bean genome. This gene is also expressed in cotyledons, roots, and hyp...

The SOMATIC EMBRYOGENESIS RECEPTOR KINASE 1 (SERK1) gene is expressed in the procambium of the vascular bundles in roots, hypocotyls, and inflorescence stems. In younger parts of roots and hypocotyls, SERK1 expression was less restricted and was also observed in protoxylem cells, immature metaxylem cells and phloem companion cells. In roots, SERK1 expression was first detected in root vascular ...

We examined the hydraulic properties of 82 native and non-native woody species common to forests of Eastern North America, including several congeneric groups, representing a range of anatomical wood types. We observed smaller conduit diameters with greater frequency in non-native species, corresponding to lower calculated potential vulnerability to cavitation index. Non-native species exhibite...