Volume: 1, 2022
1st International PhD Student’s Conference at the University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Poland: ENVIRONMENT – PLANT – ANIMAL – PRODUCT
Abstract number: P003
DOI: https://doi.org/10.24326/ICDSUPL1.P003
Published online: 26 April 2022
ICDSUPL, 1, P003 (2022)
Formation of the protective layer in horse-chestnut Aesculus hippocastanum
Anna Brzostowska1, Edyta Gola1, Elżbieta Myśkow1
1 Department of Developmental Biology, University of Wroclaw, Kanonia. 6-8, 50-328 Wroclaw, Poland
* Corresponding author: anna.brzostowska@uwr.edu.pl
Abstract
The periderm, a specialized covering tissue, constitutes a barrier between internal parts of a plant and environment. Its main function is to protect a plant against biotic (e.g. attack of pathogen, herbivory) and abiotic (including temperature changes, drought etc.) stresses. Its presence specifically characterizes the woody plants, and it is one of the features enabling trees’ longevity. The periderm is a composed tissue, formed by a meristematic (formative) layer, called phellogen, whose divisions result in the production of derivative cells, differing in their properties. As an outcome, the internal parenchymatous layer (phelloderm) as well as the numerous external layers of cork (phellem) are formed. It is worth stressing here that the cork is an important material from an economic point of view. For example, the bark (i.e. subsequent periderms formed by a tree) of cork oak (Quercus suber) is commonly utilized by humans; furthermore, the disorders of the potato tuber periderm can lead to the yield losses. Despite the significance of the periderm, the mechanisms involved in its development and functioning remained mostly unknown. However, due to the economic value of the cork, in the last decade, the genetic control of the cork formation and the process of its suberinization became one of the hottest topics in the plant sciences. Here, the initiation of phellogen and its subsequent activity in horse chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum) will be presented. The periderm development was analyzed basing on microscope observation of properly cutting and staining plant material collected from wild-growth trees during a growing season. Typically, Aesculus phellogen is initiated in result of two parallel divisions of the cells in the subsuperficial layer, forming a continuous ring of meristematic cells, which maintain their stem cell identity in following seasons. Interestingly, in the same specimen, the original phellogen can loss its function after a few divisions. Therefore, to ensure the further development of the periderm and continuity of the meristematic ring, new phellogen cells are determined. Interestingly, this unique process seems to involve communication between the original and newly initiated phellogen cells to maintain functional integrity of the periderm.
How to cite
A. Brzostowska, E. Gola, E. Myśkow, 2022. Formation of the protective layer in horse-chestnut Aesculus hippocastanum. In: 1st International PhD Student’s Conference at the University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Poland: Environment – Plant – Animal – Product. https://doi.org/10.24326/ICDSUPL1/P003