Summary
-
1.
The technique of measuring the extensibility of isolated cell walls with an extensometer (Instron technique) has been modified so that compliance values which characterize the plastic and elastic extensibility are obtained (DP and DE, respectively).
-
2.
DP and DE values are influenced by the conditions under which the measurements are made. DP is affected by the rate of extension, the applied force and the presence of the protoplast. DE is inversely proportional to the applied force but is independent of the presence of the protoplast. Because of retarded elastic behaviour and of hysteresis in the elastic extension-stress curves, measurement of DE during extension and relaxation gives different values.
-
3.
Irreversible extension as determined in this procedure appears to be due primarily to strain-hardened plastic deformation with a minor component due to some form of viscoelastic flow. Auxin increases the extensibility by acting on the strain-hardening function.
-
4.
Changes in DP and DE which occur during the course of auxin-induced cell elongation of Avena coleoptile sections have been determined. DP increases following addition of auxin, reaches a maximum after 90–120 min, and then remains constant for up to 24 hours. Sucrose has no effect on the change in DP. DE shows smaller but similar changes.
-
5.
An increase in IAA concentration up to 5×10-5 M produces similar increases in growth rate and DP. When IAA is raised to higher levels, DP remains constant while the growth rate drops.
-
6.
These results are in agreement with the concept that auxin exerts its effect on cell elongation by regulating wall extensibility but indicate that the growth rate is also influenced by other factors such as the osmotic potential of the cells.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bonner, J.: The action of the plant growth hormone. J. gen. Physiol. 17, 63–76 (1933).
Brauner, L., u. M. Hasman: Weitere Untersuchungen über den Wirkungsmechanismus des Heteroauxins bei der Wasseraufnahme von Pflanzenparenchymen. Protoplasma (Wien) 41, 302–326 (1952).
Burström, H.: The influence of heteroauxin on cell growth and root development. Ann. Agric. Coll. Swed. 10, 209–240 (1942).
Cleland, R.: A separation of auxin-induced cell wall loosening into its plastic and elastic components. Physiol. Plantarum (Kbh.) 11, 599–609 (1958).
—: Effect of osmotic concentration on auxin action and on irreversible and reversible expansion of the Avena coleoptile. Physiol. Plantarum (Kbh.) 12, 809–825 (1959).
Ferry, J. D.: Viscoelastic properties of polymers. New York: John Wiley & Sons 1961.
Foster, R. J., D. H. McRae, and J. Bonner: Auxin-induced growth inhibition a natural consequence of two-point attachment. Proc. nat. Acad. Sci. (Wash.) 38, 1014–1022 (1952).
Hackett, D. P.: The osmotic change during auxin-induced water uptake by potato tissue. Plant Physiol. 27, 249–284 (1952).
Heyn, A. N. J.: Der Mechanismus der Zellstreckung. Rec. Trav. bot. neérl. 28, 1–113 (1931).
—: Further investigations on the mechanism of cell elongation and the properties of the cell wall in connection with elongation. I. The load extension relationship. Protoplasma (Wien) 19, 78–96 (1933).
Kamiya, N., M. Tazawa, and T. Takata: The relation of turgor pressure to cell volume in Nitella with special reference to mechanical properties of the cell wall. Protoplasma (Wien) 57, 501–521 (1963).
Leaderman, H.: Proposed nomenclature for linear viscoelastic behaviour. Trans. Soc. Rheology 1, 213–222 (1957).
Lockhart, J. A.: An analysis of irreversible plant cell elongation. J. theor. Biol. 8, 264–275 (1965a).
—: Cell extension. In: Plant biochemistry (J. Bonner and J. E. Varner, eds.), p. 826–849. New York: Acad. Press 1965(b).
Morré, D. J., and J. Bonner: A mechanical analysis of root growth. Physiol. Plantarum (Kbh.) 18, 635–649 (1965).
Nilsson, S. B., C. H. Hertz, and S. Falk: On the relation between turgor pressure and tissue rigidity. II. Theoretical calculations on model systems. Physiol. Plantarum (Kbh.) 11, 818–837 (1958).
Nomoto, M., Y. Narahashi, and M. Murakami: A proteolytic enzyme of Streptomyces griseus. VI. Hydrolysis of protein by Streptomyces griseus protease. J. Biochem (Tokyo) 48, 593–602 (1960).
Olson, A. C., J. Bonner, and D. Morré: Force extension analysis of Avena coleoptile cell walls. Planta (Berl.) 66, 126–134 (1965).
Ordin, L., and J. Bonner: Permeability of Avena coleoptile sections to water measured by diffusion of deuterium hydroxide. Plant Physiol. 31, 53–57 (1956).
—, T. H. Applewhite, and J. Bonner: Auxin-induced water uptake by Avena coleoptile sections. Plant Physiol. 31, 44–53 (1956).
Prager, W.: Finite plastic deformation. In: Rheology, theory and applications (F. R. Eirich, ed.), vol. 1, p. 63–96. New York: Academic Press 1956.
Preston, R. D., and J. Hepton: The effect of indoleacetic acid on cell wall extensibility in Avena coleoptiles. J. exp. Bot. 31, 13–27 (1960).
Probine, M. C., and R. D. Preston: Cell growth and structure and mechanical properties of the wall in internodal cells of Nitella opaca. J. exp. Bot. 13, 111–127 (1962).
Ray, P. M., and A. W. Ruesink: Kinetic experiments on the nature of the growth mechanism in oat coleoptile cells. Develop. Biol. 4, 377–397 (1962).
——: Osmotic behaviour of oat coleoptile tissue in relation to growth. J. gen. Physiol. 47, 83–101 (1963).
Söding, H.: Über die Wachstumsmechanik der Haferkoleoptile. Jb. wiss. Bot. 79, 231–255 (1934).
Tagawa, T., and J. Bonner: Mechanical properties of the Avena coleoptile as related to auxin and to ionic interactions. Plant Physiol. 32, 207–212 (1957).
Ursprung A., u. G. Blum: Eine Methode zur Messung des Wand- und Turgordruckes der Zelle, nebst Anwendungen. Jb. wiss. Bot. 63, 1–110 (1924).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Cleland, R. Extensibility of isolated cell walls: Measurement and changes during cell elongation. Planta 74, 197–209 (1967). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00384842
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00384842