Characters and origin of vessels with heterogenous structure in leaf and flower abscission zones

Abstract

The lifetime of many plant organs does not exceed a few weeks or a few months. These organs separate from the plant at the level of specialized abscission zones. The observation of xylem vasculature in abscission zones, a largely neglected subject, revealed original features when a vessel casting method was used. In all species of dicotyledons examined so far, flower and leaf abscission zones possessed heterogenous metaxylem vessels adjoining protoxylem and secondary xylem vessels with homogenous patterns of lignified thickenings. Heterogenous metaxylem vessel thickenings were helical, reticulate, or scalariform elements when in the abscission zone and pitted elements on the proximal and the distal sides. The origin and possible role of these vessels are considered. Data obtained on the flower abscission zone of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) suggest that formation of heterogenous vessels results from localized changes in the rhythm of cell differentiation and cell maturation inside the procambium-cambium continuum.Key words: abscission zone, cambium, differentiation, heterogenous vessels, procambium, vessel cast.