HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

(American Journal of Botany. 2009;96:719-727.) doi: 10.3732/ajb.0800373 © 2009 Botanical Society of America, Inc.

What's this?

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Submit a response Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Web of Science (1) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Bowling, A. J. Articles by Vaughn, K. C. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Bowling, A. J. Articles by Vaughn, K. C. Agricola Articles by Bowling, A. J. Articles by Vaughn, K. C. Social Bookmarking                            What's this?

Gelatinous fibers are widespread in coiling tendrils and twining vines¹

USDA-ARS, Southern Weed Science Research Unit, Stoneville, Mississippi 38776 USA

ABSTRACT

Although the coiling of tendrils and the twining of vines has been investigated since Darwin’s time, a full understanding of the mechanism(s) of this coiling and twining ability has not yet been obtained. In a previous study (Planta 225: 485–498), gelatinous (G) fibers in tendrils of redvine occurred concomitantly with the ability to coil, strongly indicating their role in the coiling process. In this study, tendrils and twining vines of a number of species were examined using microscopic and immunocytochemical techniques to determine if a similar presence and distribution of these fibers exists in other plant species. Tendrils that coiled in many different directions had a cylinder of cortical G fibers, similar to redvine. However, tendrils that coiled only in a single direction had gelatinous fibers only along the inner surface of the coil. In tendrils with adhesive tips, the gelatinous fibers occurred in the central/core region of the tendril. Coiling occurred later in development in these tendrils, after the adhesive pad had attached. In twining stems, G fibers were not observed during the rapid circumnutation stage, but were found at later stages when the vine’s position was fixed, generally one or two nodes below the node still circumnutating. The number and extent of fiber development correlated roughly with the amount of torsion required for the vine to ascend a support. In contrast, species that use adventitious roots for climbing or were trailing/scrambling-type vines did not have G fibers. These data strongly support the concept that coiling and twining in vines is caused by the presence of G fibers.

Key Words: gelatinous (G) fibers • immunocytochemistry • tendrils • vines

Received for publication 4 November 2008. Accepted for publication 5 February 2009.

FOOTNOTES

¹ Thanks are extended to B. Maxwell for technical assistance with the SEM and the growing and collection of numerous vine species and to scientists in the SWSRU and other ARS locations for constructive criticism on these studies, and suggestions/ contributions of plant material. Two anonymous reviewers’ criticisms and ideas greatly improved the text. A.B. was supported by a headquarters-funded Research Associate position to K.C.V. The authors thank former National Program Leader, E. Delfosse, for his enthusiastic support of this research endeavor. R. Ligrone generously supplied us with a copy of the Borzi paper that was the original paper reporting fibers in tendrils of vines. Production of the CCRC series of polysaccharide monoclonal antibodies was provided by NSF grants DBI-0421683 and RCN-0090281. Mention of a trademark, proprietary product, or vendor does not constitute an endorsement by the USDA.

² Present address: Dow AgroSciences, 9330 Zionsville Rd., Indianapolis IN 46268 USA

³ Author for correspondence (e-mail: Kevin.Vaughn{at}ars.usda.gov)

CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Facebook    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				S. Isnard and W. K. Silk Moving with climbing plants from Charles Darwin's time into the 21st century Am. J. Botany, July 1, 2009; 96(7): 1205 - 1221. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]