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Novel ultrastructural observations of pea (Pisum sativum) root nodule cells by high-pressure freezing and propane-jet freezing techniques

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Summary

Pea (Pisum sativum) root nodule cells infected by the diazotrophRhizobium leguminosarum have been well characterized by chemical fixation techniques. Propane-jet freezing and high pressure freezing were used in this study to compare rapidly frozen and chemically fixed pea root nodule cells. Cells that had been incubated in 2-(N-morpholino)ethanesulfonic acid buffer and frozen with the propane-jet freezer were better preserved than cells that had been chemically fixed or frozen with the high-pressure freezer. Rapidly frozen infected nodule cells showed that the rough endoplasmic reticulum had a high frequency of associations with the peribacteroid membrane and the infection thread. The peribacteroid space also varied in size depending on the method of preservation; however, it was most reduced in size and devoid of inclusions in the propane-jet frozen tissue. The biological significance of these observations is discussed.

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Abbreviations

HPF:

high-pressure freezing

MES:

2-(N-morpholino)ethanesulfonic acid

PBM:

peribacteroid membrane

PBS:

peribacteroid space

PJF:

propane-jet freezing

RER:

rough endoplasmic reticulum

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, Queen's University, K7L 3N6, Kingston, ON, Canada

    A. L. Davidson & W. Newcomb

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  1. A. L. Davidson
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  2. W. Newcomb
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Davidson, A.L., Newcomb, W. Novel ultrastructural observations of pea (Pisum sativum) root nodule cells by high-pressure freezing and propane-jet freezing techniques. Protoplasma 213, 55–66 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01280505

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01280505

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