skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: Adaptation and growth of tomato cells on the herbicide 2,6-dichlorobenzonitrile leads to production of unique cell walls virtually lacking a cellulose-xyloglucan network

Journal Article · · Plant Physiology; (USA)
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1104/pp.94.3.980· OSTI ID:5841417
;  [1];  [2];  [3]
  1. Hebrew Univ., Jerusalem (Israel)
  2. Hebrew Univ., Jerusalem (Israel) Michigan State Univ., East Lansing, MI (USA)
  3. Michigan State Univ., East Lansing, MI (USA)

Suspension-cultured cells of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum VF 36) have been adapted to growth on high concentrations of 2,6-dichlorobenzonitrile, an herbicide which inhibits cellulose biosynthesis. The mechanism of adaptation appears to rest largely on the ability of these cells to divide and expand in the virtual absence of a cellulose-xyloglucan network. Walls of adapted cells growing on 2,6-dichlorobenzonitrile also differ from nonadapted cells by having reduced levels of hydroxyproline in protein, both in bound and salt-elutable form, and in having a much higher proportion of homogalacturonan and rhamnogalacturonan-like polymers. Most of these latter polymers are apparently cross-linked in the wall via phenolic-ester and/or phenolic ether linkages, and these polymers appear to represent the major load-bearing network in these unusual cell walls. The surprising finding that plant cells can survive in the virtual absence of a major load-bearing network in their primary cell walls indicates that plants possess remarkable flexibility for tolerating changes in wall composition.

OSTI ID:
5841417
Journal Information:
Plant Physiology; (USA), Vol. 94:3; ISSN 0032-0889
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English