Advertisement
JOURNAL ARTICLES
Cellular organisation of the Arabidopsis thaliana root
L. Dolan, K. Janmaat, V. Willemsen, P. Linstead, S. Poethig, K. Roberts, B. Scheres
Development 1993 119: 71-84;

Summary

The anatomy of the developing root of Arabidopsis is described using conventional histological techniques, scanning and transmission electron microscopy. The root meristem is derived from cells of the hypophysis and adjacent cells of the embryo proper. The postembryonic organization of the root is apparent in the mature embryo and is maintained in the growing primary root after germination. Cell number and location is relatively invariant in the primary root, with 8 cortical and endodermal cell files but more variable numbers of pericycle and epidermal cells. The organisation of cells in lateral roots is similar to that of the primary root but with more variability in the numbers of cell files in each layer. [3H]thymidine labeling of actively growing roots indicates that a quiescent centre of four central cells (derived from the hypophysis) is located between the root cap columella and the stele. This plate of four cells is surrounded by three groups of cells in, proximal, distal and lateral positions. The labeling patterns of these cells suggest that they are the initials for the files of cells that comprise the root. They give rise to four sets of cell files: the stele, the cortex and endodermis, the epidermis and lateral root-cap and the columella. A model of meristem activity is proposed based on these data. This description of Arabidopsis root structure underpins future work on the developmental genetics of root morphogenesis.

REFERENCES

    1. Armstrong J. E.,
    2. Heimsch C.
    (1976). Ontogenetic reorganisation of the root meristem in the Compositae. Amer. J. Bot 63, 212–219
    OpenUrlCrossRefWeb of Science
    1. Brumfield R. T.
    (1943). Cell-lineage studies in root meristems by means of chromosome rearrangements induced by X-rays. Am. J. Bot 30, 101–110
    OpenUrlCrossRef
    1. Bunning E.
    (1951). Ueber die differenzierungsvorgange in der Crucifierwurzel. Planta 39, 126–153
    OpenUrlCrossRefWeb of Science
    1. Clowes F. A. L.
    (1981). The difference between open and closed meristems. Ann.Bot 48, 761–767
    OpenUrlAbstract/FREE Full Text
    1. Furner I. J.,
    2. Pumfrey J. E.
    (1992). Cell fate in the shoot apical meristem of Arabidopsis thaliana. Development 115, 755–764
    OpenUrlAbstract/FREE Full Text
    1. Horvitz H.,
    2. Sternberg P. W.
    (1991). Multiple intercellular signalling systems control the development of the Caenorhabditis elegans vulva. Nature 351, 535–541
    OpenUrlCrossRefPubMed
    1. Irish V. F.,
    2. Sussex I. M.
    (1992). A fate map of the Arabidopsis embryonic shoot apical meristem. Development 115, 745–753
    OpenUrlAbstract/FREE Full Text
    1. Knox J. P.,
    2. Linstead P. J.,
    3. King J.,
    4. Cooper C.,
    5. Roberts K.
    (1990). Pectin esterification is spatially regulated both within walls and between developing tissues of root apices. Planta 181, 512–521
    OpenUrlPubMedWeb of Science
    1. Mansfield S. G.,
    2. Briarty L.G.
    (1991). Early embryogenesis in Arabidopsisthaliana. II. The developing embryo. Can. J. Bot 69, 461–476
    OpenUrlCrossRefWeb of Science
    1. Mayer U.,
    2. Torres Ruiz R. A.,
    3. Berleth T.,
    4. Misera S.,
    5. Jurgens G.
    (1991). Mutations affecting body organisation in the Arabidopsis embryo. Nature 353, 402–407
    OpenUrlCrossRef
    1. Meyerowitz E. M.
    (1989). Arabidopsis, a useful weed. Cell 56, 263–269
    OpenUrlCrossRefPubMedWeb of Science
    1. Nusslein-Volhard C.
    (1991). Determination of the embryonic axes of Drosophila. Development 1, 1–10
    1. Peterson R. L.
    (1967). Differentiation and maturation of primary tissues in white mustard root tips. Can. J. Bot 45, 319–331
    OpenUrl
    1. Poethig R. S.
    (1987). Clonal analysis of cell lineage patterns in plant development. Am. J. Bot 74, 581–594
    OpenUrlCrossRefWeb of Science
    1. Popham R. A.
    (1955). Zonation of primary and lateral root apices of Pisum sativum. Am. J. Bot 42, 267–273
    OpenUrlCrossRefWeb of Science
    1. Popham R. A.
    (1955). Levels of differentiation in primary roots of Pisum sativum. Am. J. Bot 42, 529–540
    OpenUrlCrossRefWeb of Science
    1. Satina S.,
    2. Blakeslee A. F.,
    3. Avery A. G.
    (1940). Demonstration of three germ layers in the shoot apex of Datura by means of polyploidy in periclinal chimeras. Am. J. Bot 25, 895–905
    OpenUrlCrossRef
    1. Sternberg P. W.,
    2. Horvitz H. R.
    (1984). The genetic control of cell lineage in nematode development. Ann. Rev. Genet 18, 489–524
    OpenUrlCrossRefPubMedWeb of Science
    1. Torrey J. G.
    (1955). On the differentiation of vascular patterns during tissue differentiation in excised pea roots. Amer. J. Bot 42, 183–198
    OpenUrlCrossRefWeb of Science
    1. von Guttenberg H.
    (1947). Studien uber die Entwicklung des Wurzelvegetationspunktes der Dikotyledonen. Planta 35, 360–396
    OpenUrlCrossRef
Back to top

 Download PDF

Email
JOURNAL ARTICLES
Cellular organisation of the Arabidopsis thaliana root
L. Dolan, K. Janmaat, V. Willemsen, P. Linstead, S. Poethig, K. Roberts, B. Scheres
Development 1993 119: 71-84;
del.icio.us logo Digg logo Reddit logo Twitter logo CiteULike logo Facebook logo Google logo Mendeley logo
Citation Tools
Alerts

Article navigation

Other journals from The Company of Biologists

Advertisement

Kathryn Virginia Anderson (1952-2020)

Developmental geneticist Kathryn Anderson passed away at home on 30 November 2020. Tamara Caspary, a former postdoc and friend, remembers Kathryn and her remarkable contribution to developmental biology.

Zooming into 2021

In a new Editorial, Editor-in-Chief James Briscoe and Executive Editor Katherine Brown reflect on the triumphs and tribulations of the last 12 months, and look towards a hopefully calmer and more predictable year.

Read & Publish participation extends worldwide

Over 60 institutions in 12 countries are now participating in our Read & Publish initiative. Here, James Briscoe explains what this means for his institution, The Francis Crick Institute. Find out more and view our full list of participating institutions.

Upcoming special issues

Imaging Development, Stem Cells and Regeneration
Submission deadline: 30 March 2021
Publication: mid-2021

The Immune System in Development and Regeneration
Guest editors: Florent Ginhoux and Paul Martin
Submission deadline: 1 September 2021
Publication: Spring 2022

Both special issues welcome Review articles as well as Research articles, and will be widely promoted online and at key global conferences.

Development presents...

Our successful webinar series continues into 2021, with early-career researchers presenting their papers and a chance to virtually network with the developmental biology community afterwards. Sign up to join our next session:

10 February
Time: 13:00 (GMT)
Chaired by: preLights