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Some water‐related physical properties of maize root‐cap mucilage
Author(s) -
GUINEL F. C.,
McCULLY M. E.
Publication year - 1986
Publication title -
plant, cell and environment
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.646
H-Index - 200
eISSN - 1365-3040
pISSN - 0140-7791
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-3040.1986.tb01624.x
Subject(s) - mucilage , root cap , rhizosphere , botany , cell wall , petri dish , chemistry , periplasmic space , extrusion , polysaccharide , biology , materials science , biochemistry , bacteria , genetics , escherichia coli , shoot , meristem , gene , metallurgy
The dry weight (0.1%) and water potential ‐7 kPa) of root‐cap mucilage from 3‐d‐old axenically grown maize seedlings have been determined. The results suggest strong gelling properties and weak water‐holding capacity for the mucilage. Root tips from seedlings grown under low or high water stress were fixed by freeze‐substitution. Micrographs showed that in both conditions, mucilage was secreted into the periplasmic space and extruded through the cell wall, though in dry conditions, the mucilage was tightly pressed against the root‐cap surface. Histochemical and structural evidence is presented indicating chemical changes in the composition of the mucilage upon extrusion and a sharp increase in its hydration at increasing distance from the secretory cells. The possible functions of the root‐cap mucilage in the rhizosphere are examined in light of these findings.