Abstract
PremiseYoung plant roots share a common architecture: a central vascular cylinder surrounded by enveloping cylinders of ground and dermal tissue produced by an apical promeristem. Roots with closed apical organization can be studied to explore how ontogeny is managed. The analysis of transverse and longitudinal sections has been the most useful approach for this, but suffers from limitations. We developed a new method that utilizes digital photography of transverse sections and three‐dimensional (3D) computer virtual reconstructions to overcome the limitations of other techniques.MethodsSerial transverse sections of teosinte root tips (Zea mays subsp. mexicana) were used to construct longitudinal images, 3D images, and an animated 3D model. The high‐resolution, high‐contrast, and low‐distortion sectioning method developed previously by the authors enabled high‐quality virtual image construction with the aid of a standard laptop computer.ResultsThe resulting 3D images allowed greater insight into root tissue ontogeny and organization, especially specific cellular structures such as histogen layers, xylem vessels, pericycle, and meristematic initials.DiscussionThis new method has advantages over confocal laser scanning microscopy and magnetic resonance imaging for visualizing anatomy, and includes a procedure to correct for sectioning distortion. An additional advantage of this method, developed to produce better knowledge about the developmental anatomy of procambium in roots, is its applicability to a wide range of anatomical subjects.
Highlights
PREMISE: Young plant roots share a common architecture: a central vascular cylinder surrounded by enveloping cylinders of ground and dermal tissue produced by an apical promeristem
The resulting 3D images allowed greater insight into root tissue ontogeny and organization, especially specific cellular structures such as histogen layers, xylem vessels, pericycle, and meristematic initials. This new method has advantages over confocal laser scanning microscopy and magnetic resonance imaging for visualizing anatomy, and includes a procedure to correct for sectioning distortion
The roots of most plants have a similar anatomy, with the vascular tissues organized into a central “vascular cylinder” comprising the xylem and phloem tissue arranged in various speciesspecific patterns surrounded at the outward margin by a layer of cells called the pericycle
Summary
PREMISE: Young plant roots share a common architecture: a central vascular cylinder surrounded by enveloping cylinders of ground and dermal tissue produced by an apical promeristem. Roots with closed apical organization can be studied to explore how ontogeny is managed. The analysis of transverse and longitudinal sections has been the most useful approach for this, but suffers from limitations. We developed a new method that utilizes digital photography of transverse sections and three-dimensional (3D) computer virtual reconstructions to overcome the limitations of other techniques
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