Exogenously applied jasmonic acid induces changes in apical meristem morphology of potato stolons

CENZANO A, VIGLIOCCO A, KRAUS T, ABDALA G.

ANNALS OF BOTANY

Oxford University Press

Lugar: Bristol, inglaterra; Año: 2003 vol. 91 p. 917 - 921

0305-7364

Hooked apex stolons and initial swelling stolons of potato plants were treated with jasmonic acid (JA) at 3 x 10-8  mol . l-1 to study the effect of this compound on the histology, cell expansion and tissue differentiation. In hooked apex stolons JA increased the meristem thickness and reduced the length of the leaf primordia, whereas, in initial swelling stolons narrowing of the apical region, absence of leaf primordia and swelling of the subapical meristem were evident. Early vascular tissue differentiation was observed in response to JA, especially of xylem elements from the regions proximal to the tunic. Protoxylem elements such as tracheal elements with thin primary cell walls were present. The cell area was measured in two zones: zone I, mother central cells situated immediately under the tunic; zone II, rib meristem cells. The cell area increase caused by JA in both zones was 4-fold in hooked apex stolons and 6-fold in initial swelling stolons. Thus, it could be observed that tuber formation occurs as a consequence of an increased cell expansion, reduction of leaf primordia length, enlargement of meristems and early vascular tissue differentiation.