Boron toxicity induced specific changes of cell ultrastructure and architecture of components in leaf center and tip of trifoliate orange [Poncirus trifoliata (L.) Raf.

Abstract

The distribution of boron (B) in leaves is far from uniform, and tolerance to B toxicity should be varied in different portions of an entire leaf. Here, according to the order and degree of leaf chlorosis, a whole leaf blade of trifoliate orange [Poncirus trifoliata (L.) Raf.] rootstock was divided into two segments-leaf tip and leaf center, and transmission electron microscope (TEM) and fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) were used to obtain more detailed information on the cell ultrastructure and component architecture of the two leaf segments under B toxicity. Results revealed that B toxicity led to alterations in pectin network crosslinking structure of leaf tip and destruction of cell wall integrity. Moreover, B toxicity altered protein structure and decreased protein content, while increased carbohydrate content in the two leaf segments, especially in leaf tip. Excess B supply reduced the cellulose content in leaf tip but increased in leaf center. TEM micrographs exhibited chloroplast disintegration and plastoglobulus accumulation in cells of two different leaf sections of B-toxicity plants, with less pronounced changes in leaf center. Furthermore, B toxicity only induced accumulation of starch grains in cells of leaf center. Overall results indicated that the B-toxic-induced biochemical changes of the cell ultrastructure and component architecture greatly differed in leaf tip and center. This study facilitates a better understanding of structural changes in different leaf portions of P. trifoliata under B toxicity stress and provides new ideas for further research on other elements in different plant leaf portions.