Cell-wall tension of the inner tissues of the maize coleoptile and its potential contribution to auxin-mediated organ growth

Abstract

Plant organs such as maize (Zea mays L.) coleoptiles are characterized by longitudinal tissue tension, i.e. bulk turgor pressure produces unequal amounts of cell-wall tension in the epidermis (essentially the outer epidermal wall) and in the inner tissues. The fractional amount of turgor borne by the epidermal wall of turgid maize coleoptile segments was indirectly estimated by determining the water potential ψ^* of an external medium which is needed to replace quantitatively the compressive force of the epidermal wall on the inner tissues. The fractional amount of turgor borne by the walls of the inner tissues was estimated from the difference between -ψ^* and the osmotic pressure of the cell sap (π_i) which was assumed to represent the turgor of the fully turgid tissue. In segments incubated in water for 1 h, -ψ^* was 6.1–6.5 bar at a π_i of 6.7 bar. Both -ψ^* and π_i decreased during auxin-induced growth because of water uptake, but did not deviate significantly from each other. It is concluded that the turgor fraction utilized for the elastic extension of the inner tissue walls is less than 1 bar, i.e. less than 15% of bulk turgor, and that more than 85% of bulk turgor is utilized for counteracting the high compressive force of the outer epidermal wall which, in this way, is enabled to mechanically control elongation growth of the organ. This situation is maintained during auxin-induced growth.