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Study on programmed cell death and dynamic changes of starch accumulation in pericarp cells of Triticum aestivum L.*

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Abstract

Features of programmed cell death (PCD) and dynamic changes of starch accumulation in developing pericarp cells of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) were observed and analyzed by periodic acid–Schiff/toluidine blue O double staining, fluorescence staining, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated fluorescein deoxyuridine triphosphate nick-end labeling (TUNEL) and transmission electron microscopy. The results showed that cellular organelles were orderly disintegrated. TUNEL-positive nuclei were detected at 0 day after flowering (DAF), whereas nuclei showed significant features of degradation at 2 DAF, such as chromatin condensation, nuclei condensation, and nuclei deformation. Then, heterochromatin gradually disappeared and the cellular nucleus was completely degraded. The mitochondria degradation and vacuolation also were detected at 15 DAF. These results indicated that the development of pericarp cells was a typical process of PCD. However, the PCD in pericarp cells had their own characteristics: PCD started early and lasted for a considerable time. In the delayed process of PCD, starch granules were synthesized, deposited, and degraded temporarily in amyloplasts or chloroplasts. The delay of PCD in pericarp cells may be due to sufficient photosynthetic assimilates and energy supply. Besides, normal mitochondria were required for pericarp cells to survive. Pericarp cells contained only compound starch granules. Starch was massively synthesized from 0 to 11 DAF, but it was rapidly degraded after 11 DAF. Therefore, apart from protection, pericarp cells played essential roles in starch synthesis, storage, and degradation, as well as nutrient transportation.

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Abbreviations

DAF:

day after flowering

DBF:

days before flowering

HR:

hypersensitivity reaction

NSGA:

numbers of starch granules in one amyloplast

NAC:

numbers of amyloplasts in one cell

PCD:

programmed cell death

TUNEL:

terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated fluorescein deoxyuridine triphosphate nick-end labeling

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Acknowledgements

Our deepest gratitude goes to first and foremost the National Nature Science Foundation of China (30571101) for their financial support. We also owe our sincere thanks to Mrs. Cui Wang for her revising on the earlier draft.

Conflict of interest

We have a financial relationship with the organization that sponsored the research. We declare that we have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Cell Biology, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, 430070, China

    Zhuqing Zhou, Likai Wang, Jiwei Li, Xuefang Song & Chaonan Yang

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  1. Zhuqing Zhou
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  2. Likai Wang
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  3. Jiwei Li
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  4. Xuefang Song
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  5. Chaonan Yang
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Correspondence to Zhuqing Zhou.

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Zhuqing Zhou and Likai Wang contributed equally to this work.

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Zhou, Z., Wang, L., Li, J. et al. Study on programmed cell death and dynamic changes of starch accumulation in pericarp cells of Triticum aestivum L.*. Protoplasma 236, 49–58 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00709-009-0046-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00709-009-0046-7

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