The particular vesicle appearing in barley root cells and its relation to mugineic acid secretion

Abstract

The changes in the ultrastructure of barley root cells induced by Fe‐deficiency was investigated in relation to secretion of mugineic acid and its analogues (MAS). We found that the particular vesicles were present in barley root cells under both conditions of sufficient and deficient iron. These particular vesicles were increased in number and volume under Fe‐deficient condition. These vesicles contained fibrous materials. Their limiting membrane was thinner than that of Golgi vesicles, and they had ribosomes around their surface. Their structure suggests that they originated from rough endoplasmic reticulum. The vesicle volume was expanded especially before sunrise when MAs were enriched in Fe‐deficient barley roots. In the midday, after secretion of MAs, the volume of the vesicles decreased.

Key words:

• Barley root
• Fe‐deficiency
• mugineic acid
• ultrastructure