Slow vacuolar channels of non-embryogenic and embryogenic cultures of winter wheat

Abstract

Slowly activating vacuolar channels (SV), were examined in embryogenic and non-embryogenic cultures of winter wheat using a patch-clamp technique. Four different types of cultures were examined: embryogenic and non-embryogenic calli from embryos, embryogenic and non-embryogenic calli from inflorescences. In a cell-attached mode single SV channel events were recorded. Unitary conductance of single SV channels was between 37 pS and 48 pS and did not significantly depend on the kind of the culture, although it was a tendency that SV channels of embryogenic calli possessed lower unitary conductance than those of non-embryogenic. 2,4-D caused significant lowering of unitary conductance from 48±6 pS in the control culture of embryogenic embryos to 28±6 pS in vacuoles treated. The SV channel density was estimated as 0.34 µm−2.