The Brassicaceae species Heliophila coronopifolia produces root border-like cells that protect the root tip and secrete defensin peptides.

ABSTRACT:

Background and aims

Root border cells and border-like cells (BLCs), the latter originally described in Arabidopsis thaliana , have been described as cells released at the root tips of the species in which they occur. BLCs are thought to provide protection to root meristems similar to classical root border cells. In addition, four defensin peptides (Hc-AFP1-4) have previously been characterized from Heliophila coronopifolia , a South African semi-desert flower, and found to be strongly antifungal. This provided an opportunity to evaluate if the BLCs of H. coronopifolia indeed produce these defensins, which would provide evidence towards a defence role for BLCs.

Methods

Fluorescence microscopy, using live-cell-imaging technology, was used to characterize the BLCs of H. coronop

SUBMITTER: Weiller F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5379576 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature