| Abstract Detail
Cell Walls Lynch, Margaret [1], Trang, Phung [1], Guerra, Jacqueline [1]. Cuticular permeability differs between the standard and glossy genotypes of Brassica rapa. The aerial surface of land plants is covered with a waxy cuticle. This cuticle protects the plant from desiccation, UV irradiation, mechanical damage, and potential pathogens. The cuticle contains the polymer cutin, cuticular waxes and epicuticular waxes. These waxes are composed of a variety of compounds such as very long chain fatty acids, alkanes, primary and secondary alcohols, aldehydes, esters and ketones. The exact composition varies not only with species, but also with organ and developmental stage. In a number of species, plant mutants have been isolated in which either the amount and/or the composition of the cuticular and/or epicuticular waxes is altered. These mutants often appear glossier or less glaucous in appearance compared to standard (wild-type) plants. These mutants can be analyzed for differences in cuticular permeability with a chlorophyll leak assay. In Brassica rapa, there is a glossy mutant whose stems and seed pods appear much more glossy than in the standard genotype, and the leaves subtly more glossy. In this poster, we describe the use of a chlorophyll leak assay to measure cuticular permeability in both the glossy mutant and in the standard genotype of rapid-cycling Brassica rapa. Chlorophyll leaks more rapidly from detached leaves, seed pods, and stems from the glossy mutant than from the standard plants. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that the cuticle of the glossy mutant is more permeable than the cuticle of the standard genotype. We are investigating differences in both the chemical composition of wax components and in epicuticular wax ultrastructure.
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1 - Tufts University, Department of Biology, Dana Hall, Medford, MA, 02155, USA
Keywords:
Brassica rapa
cuticle
wax.
Presentation Type: Plant Biology Abstract
Session: P
Location: Exhibit Hall (Northeast, Southwest & Southeast)/Hilton
Date: Sunday, July 8th, 2007
Time: 8:00 AM
Number: P17039
Abstract ID:1970 |
