Incorporation of Tritiated Thymidine and Uridine into Adventitious-root Initial Cells of Vigna radiata

Abstract

Abstract Adventitious roots in mung bean [Vigna radiata (L.) R. Wilcz. cv. Berken] cuttings develop from specific “rooting-zone parenchyma” (R-ZP) cells. Microautoradiography was used to determine the timing of thymidine and uridine incorporation into the R-ZP cells, prior to the first cell division, in the presence or absence of naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA). Since 6-3H-thymidine incorporation reached a maximum between 11 and 14 hours, we suggest that the R-ZP cells were in the G1 phase when the cuttings were taken. Tritiated uridine was incorporated into the RNA of the R-ZP cells 2 hours after the cuttings were placed in the labeled solution. DNA synthesis and cell division of the R-ZP cells occurred along the entire length of the hypocotyl (basal, middle, and top segments), but these initial events were not sufficient to result in the subsequent formation of adventitious roots. NAA promoted adventitious root formation in the cuttings but it had no apparent effect on nucleic acid labeling nor initial cell division of the R-ZP cells. The initial division of the R-ZP cells appears to be a wounding response and occurs in the presence or absence of exogenous auxin.