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In situ analysis of cell wall polymers associated with phloem fibre cells in stems of hemp, Cannabis sativa L.

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Abstract

A study of stem anatomy and the sclerenchyma fibre cells associated with the phloem tissues of hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) plants is of interest for both understanding the formation of secondary cell walls and for the enhancement of fibre utility as industrial fibres and textiles. Using a range of molecular probes for cell wall polysaccharides we have surveyed the presence of cell wall components in stems of hemp in conjunction with an anatomical survey of stem and phloem fibre development. The only polysaccharide detected to occur abundantly throughout the secondary cell walls of phloem fibres was cellulose. Pectic homogalacturonan epitopes were detected in the primary cell walls/intercellular matrices between the phloem fibres although these epitopes were present at a lower level than in the surrounding parenchyma cell walls. Arabinogalactan-protein glycan epitopes displayed a diversity of occurrence in relation to fibre development and the JIM14 epitope was specific to fibre cells, binding to the inner surface of secondary cell walls, throughout development. Xylan epitopes were found to be present in the fibre cells (and xylem secondary cell walls) and absent from adjacent parenchyma cell walls. Analysis of xylan occurrence in the phloem fibre cells of hemp and flax indicated that xylan epitopes were restricted to the primary cell walls of fibre cells and were not present in the secondary cell walls of these cells.

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Abbreviations

AGP:

Arabinogalactan-protein

CBM:

Carbohydrate-binding module

DIC:

Differential interference contrast

HG:

Homogalacturonan

MP:

Milk protein

PBS:

Phosphate-buffered saline

RG-I:

Rhamnogalacturonan-I

TS:

Transverse section

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Acknowledgments

The authors acknowledge funding from the UK Department of Trade and Industry (DTI Project No: TP/3/BIO/6/I/15563). Authors also thank Sue Riddlestone and Robert Franck for useful discussions and Emily Stott for her hard work in the management of the collaborative project. They are grateful to Prof. Harry Gilbert (University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne) for providing the CBMs and Dr Cécile Hervé for providing the sections of flax stems.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Plant Sciences, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK

    Anthony W. Blake, Susan E. Marcus & J. Paul Knox

  2. Green Chemistry Group, Centre for Technical Textiles, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK

    Anthony W. Blake & Richard S. Blackburn

  3. Central Science Laboratory, Sand Hutton, York, YO41 1LZ, UK

    James E. Copeland

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  1. Anthony W. Blake
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  2. Susan E. Marcus
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  3. James E. Copeland
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  4. Richard S. Blackburn
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  5. J. Paul Knox
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Correspondence to J. Paul Knox.

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Blake, A.W., Marcus, S.E., Copeland, J.E. et al. In situ analysis of cell wall polymers associated with phloem fibre cells in stems of hemp, Cannabis sativa L. . Planta 228, 1–13 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00425-008-0713-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00425-008-0713-5

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