Effects of DCPA on Tomato Hypocotyl Tissue

Abstract

Dimethyl tetrachloroterephthalate (DCPA) caused localized swelling of the hypocotyl of tomato(Lycopersicon esculentumMill. ‘VF-99′). DCPA caused phloem and xylem parenchyma cells to become multinucleate and to develop into masses undifferentiated tissue within the stele of the tomato hypocotyl. Xylem procambium differentiated earlier than that of controls and matured into shortened and often disconnected elements. Xylem formed prior to treatment was often disrupted due to pressure from the dividing xylem parenchyma. Xylem parenchyma tended to break down resulting in the formation of air cavities within the stele. Cells in the stele of treated hypocotyls tended to stain more intensely with safranin than did the cells in the steles of untreated tomato hypocotyls indicating a difference in cell wall composition. Treated tissue had a higher concentration of total oxalates than did untreated tissue.