Salt-induced Pinocytosis in Barley and Bean

Abstract

The ultrastructure of the halophyte, Salicornia europea L. was compared with barley and bean plants grown under saline conditions. S. europea exhibited frequent pinocytotic vesiculation in the hypocotyl and stem but less vesiculation in the root and cotyledon. No vesiculation was observed in barley and bean plants grown in the absence of sodium chloride though plants grown in the presence of sodium chloride demonstrated vesiculation, more in barley than in bean. Both the halophyte and the glycophytes demonstrated more pinocytosis in the plant tops than in the root system. The multivesiculate structures observed were connected to the wall free space at the early stages of their formation and have not been reported in plants under normal physiological conditions. The observations on pinocytosis are discussed in relation to toxic ion compartmentation and salt resistance in plants.