Increase of Free Space Solutes in Tobacco Leaves in Relation to the Localized Cellular Response Following Injections of a Bacterial Protein‐Lipopolysaccharide Complex*

Abstract

AbstractVariations in pH, cell ultrastructure, conductivity, calcium ion molarity, reducing sugars, uronic acids and in protein of the intercellular washing fluid were studied at 0, 12, 24 and 48 h in tobacco leaf halves intercellularly injected with a bacterial pr‐LPS complex (250 μg‐ml−1). These injections induced a localized cellular reaction (LCR) in points opposite to intercellular structured deposits on the plant cell walls. The intercellular fluid pH was higher at 24 h than in the control, but not at 12 and 48 h. The conductivity, the calcium ion molarity, the free and hydrolyzed sugar content were higher at 12, 24 and 48 h than in the control tissue; the uronic acid content was higher at 24 and 48 h, but not at 12 h. There was a peak for, all 5 parameters at around 24 h, when LCR showed its highest activity. The protein content was significantly higher at 24 and 48 h than in the control intercellular fluid.The increase in conductivity, calcium ions, sugar, uronic acids and proteins in the intercellular fluids of the pr‐LPS injected tissue were interpreted as direct or indirect effects of the LCR, i.e. as an exocytosis induced by pr‐LPS injections. The associated high sugar and uronic acid content of the intercellular fluid at 12 and 24 h was not correlated to its capacity to prevent the hypersensitive confluent necrosis when injected intercellularly into tobacco tissue.