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The Development, Physiology, and Function of Selected Plant Calcium Oxalate Crystal Idioblasts Albert Paul Kausch Iowa State University

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The Development, Physiology, and Function of Selected Plant Calcium Oxalate Crystal Idioblasts Albert Paul Kausch Iowa State University Iowa State University Capstones, Theses and Retrospective Theses and Dissertations Dissertations 1983 The development, physiology, and function of selected plant calcium oxalate crystal idioblasts Albert Paul Kausch Iowa State University Follow this and additional works at: https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/rtd Part of the Botany Commons Recommended Citation Kausch, Albert Paul, "The development, physiology, and function of selected plant calcium oxalate crystal idioblasts " (1983). Retrospective Theses and Dissertations. 7723. https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/rtd/7723 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Iowa State University Capstones, Theses and Dissertations at Iowa State University Digital Repository. It has been accepted for inclusion in Retrospective Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Iowa State University Digital Repository. For more information, please contact [email protected]. INFORMATION TO USERS This reproduction was made from a copy of a document sent to us for microfihning. While the most advanced technology has been used to photograph and reproduce this document, the quality of the reproduction is heavily dependent upon the quality of the material submitted. The following explanation of techniques is provided to help clarify markings or notations which may appear on this reproduction. 1. The sign or "target" foi pages apparently lacking from the document photographed is "Missing Page(s)". If it was possible to obtain the missing page(s) or section, they are spliced into the film along with adjacent pages. This may have necessitated cutting through an image and duplicating adjacent pages to assure complete continuity. 2. When an image on the film is obliterated with a round black mark, it is an indication of either blurred copy because of movement during exposure, duplicate copy, or copyrighted materials that should not have been filmed. For blurred pages, a good image of the page can be found in the adjacent frame. If copyrighted materials were deleted, a target note will appear listing the pages in the adjacent frame. 3. When a map, drawing or chart, etc., is part of the material being photographed, a definite method of "sectioning" the material has been followed. It is customary to begin filming at the upper left hand comer of a large sheet and to continue from left to right in equal sections with small overlaps. If necessary, sectioning is continued again-beginning below the first row and continuing on until complete. 4. For illustrations that cannot be satisfactorily reproduced by xerographic means, photographic prints can be purchased at additional cost and inserted into your xerographic copy. These prints are available upon request from the Dissertations Customer Services Department. 5. Some pages in any document may have indistinct print. In all cases the best available copy has been filmed. Universi^ Micronlms International 300 N. Zeeb Road Ann Arbor, Ml 48106 8323292 Kausch, Albert Paul THE DEVELOPMENT, PHYSIOLOGY, AND FUNCTION OF SELECTED PLANT CALCIUM OXALATE CRYSTAL IDIOBLASTS Iowa State University PH.D. 1983 University IVIicrofilms Intern&tionsi aw N.zeeb Road, Ann Arbor, Ml 48106 PLEASE NOTE: In all cases this material has been filmed in the best possible way from the available copy. Problems encountered with this document have been identified here with a check mark V . 1. Glossy photographs or pages «/^ 2. Colored illustrations, paper or print 3. Photographs with dark background 4. Illustrations are poor copy 5: Pages with black marks, not original copy 6. Print shows through as there is text on both sides of page 7. Indistinct, broken or small print on several pages 8. Print exceeds margin requirements 9. Tightly bound copy with print lost in spine 10. Computer printout pages with indistinct print 11. Page(s) lacking when material received, and not available from school or author. 12. Page(s) seem to be missing in numbering only as text follows. 13. Two pages numbered . Text follows. 14. Curiing and wrinkled pages 15. Other University Microfilms International The development, physiology, and function of selected plant calcium oxalate crystal Idloblasts by Albert Paul Kausch A Dissertation Submitted to the Graduate Faculty in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY Department: Bo tany Interdepartmental Major: Botany (Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology) Approved; Signature was redacted for privacy. In Charge of Major Work Signature was redacted for privacy. Signature was redacted for privacy. For the Gr Iowa State University Ames, Iowa 1983 il TABLE OF CONTENTS Page INTRODUCTION 1 LITERATURE REVIEW 4 PART I. DEVELOPMENT OF SYNCYTIAL RAPHIDE CRYSTAL IDIOBLASTS 55 IN THE CORTEX OF ADVENTITIOUS ROOTS OF VANILLA PLANIFOLIA L. (ORCHIDACEAE) ABSTRACT 57 INTRODUCTION 58 MATERIALS AND METHODS 60 RESULTS 62 DISCUSSION 76 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 80 DISCUSSION WITH REVIEWERS 81 APPENDIX 87 PART II. INCREASED NUCLEAR DNA CONTENT IN RAPHIDE CRYSTAL 108 IDIOBLASTS DURING DEVELOPMENT IN VANILLA PLANI­ FOLIA L. (ORCHIDACEAE) SUMMARY 110 INTRODUCTION 111 MATERIALS AND METHODS 114 RESULTS 117 DISCUSSION 125 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 130 APPENDIX 131 iii Page PART III. DIFFERENTIATION OF RAPHIDE CRYSTAL IDIOBLASTS IN 136 ISOLATED ROOT CULTURES OF YUCCA TORREYI L. (AGAVACEAE) ABSTRACT 138 INTRODUCTION 139 MATERIALS AND METHODS 141 RESULTS 144 DISCUSSION 153 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 170 APPENDIX 171 PART IV. USE OF THE CERIUM CHLORIDE TECHNIQUE AND ENERGY 180 DISPERSIVE X-RAY MICROANALYSIS IN PLANT PEROXISOME IDENTIFICATION WITH TEM AND SEM SUMMARY 182 INTRODUCTION 183 MATERIALS AND METHODS 185 RESULTS 188 DISCUSSION 209 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 215 APPENDIX 216 PART V. ABSENCE OF CeCls-DETECTABLE GLYCOLATE OXIDASE 223 ACTIVITY IN DEVELOPING RAPHIDE CRYSTAL IDIOBLASTS OF PSYCHOTRIA PUNCTATA AND YUCCA TORREYI ABSTRACT 225 INTRODUCTION 226 MATERIALS AND METHODS 229 / iv Page RESULTS 233 DISCUSSION 245 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 250 APPENDIX 251 PART VI. BIOGENESIS AND CYTOCHEMISTRY OF UNSPECIALIZED 262 PEROXISOMES IN ROOT CORTICAL CELLS OF YUCCA TORREYI L. ABSTRACT 264 INTRODUCTION 65 MATERIALS AND METHODS 268 RESULTS 270 DISCUSSION 281 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 288 APPENDIX 289 PART VII. A COMPARISON OF CALCIUM OXALATE CRYSTALS ISOLATED 299 FROM CALLUS CULTURES AND THEIR EXPLANT SOURCES ABSTRACT 301 INTRODUCTION 302 MATERIALS AND METHODS 304 RESULTS 313 DISCUSSION 325 ACKNOl'JLEDGMENTS 331 DISCUSSION WITH REVIEWERS 332 APPENDIX 336 V Page SUMMARY 339 LITERATURE CITED 367 ACKNOWLED0IENTS 393 1 INTRODUCTION Deposits of insoluble calcium oxalate occur as microscopically visi­ ble crystals in a wide variety of plant taxa. Their formation in plants is considered to be nonpathological and is typically described as intra­ cellular in origin. The crystallization process often occurs within high­ ly specialized and complex cells called crystal idioblasts and is appar­ ently under strict biological control. Crystal idioblasts often may de­ velop within meristematic tissues and often differ considerably from cells in surrounding tissues in their size and appearance. Although a number of investigators have observed the ultrastructure of crystal idioblasts with light and electron microscopy, the developmental changes associated with crystal formation are still not resolved. Furthermore, the cellular machinery shown to be involved with crystal production in the cells of some plants is not equally obvious in other systems. Crystal cells have been observed in many different organs and diverse tissues of a legion of different plants. The size, shape, location, and orientation of the Idloblast, as well as the shape of the crystal produced within the idloblast, are considered to be characteristic for a given species. Some of these characteristics, the initiation of idloblast de­ velopment, and the number of idioblasts ultimately formed may be affected by changes in environmental and nutritional conditions (Zindler-Frank, 1975; Franceschi and Homer, 1979). The causal stimuli governing idlo­ blast initiation are unknown. Oxalate may be produced biochemically in plants through at leastfive- separate pathways ^ vivo. The specific synthetic pathway of this crystal 2 precursor has never been correlated with crystal foinnatlon in any plant. Similarly, the origin of calcium utilized in plant crystallization has never been elucidated. The complexly detailed and specific nature of crystal formation and the wide occurrence of this phenomenon in plants has led many authors to speciulate upon the function of their production. Despite the fact that crystallization is often observed in merlstematlc regions, the relation­ ship of crystal formation to surrounding tissue and organ development has only recently been considered (Homer and Wagner, 1980). The prevalence, biological curiosity, and aesthetics of plant crystals have inspired numerous investigators over the years. However, many aspects regarding their formation and function remain unknown. One of the goals of this project has been to understand what is involved de- velopmentally as an undifferentiated cell becomes specialized for Ca oxalate accumulation. Besides observations of ultrastructural develop­ mental events, attempts have been made to gain insight into metabolic and physiological events linked to idioblast differentiation. Another goal of this project has been to begin elucidation of inductive factors which affect idioblast cytodifferentlatlon in organ and tissue cultures. As a consequence of this project, some assessments concerning the function
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