Advances in Plant Anatomy and Cell Biology

A special issue of Plants (ISSN 2223-7747). This special issue belongs to the section "Plant Cell Biology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (28 February 2025) | Viewed by 7414

Special Issue Editors


E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Instituto de Botánica del Nordeste (UNNE–CONICET), Universidad Nacional del Nordeste, Sargento Cabral 2131, Corrientes CP 3400, Argentina
Interests: plant anatomy and embryology in angiosperms with emphasis on glandular structures
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Buenos Aires C1033AAJ, Argentina
2. Instituto de Investigaciones en Recursos Naturales, Agroecología y Desarrollo Rural (IRNAD), Universidad Nacional de Río Negro-CONICET, San Carlos de Bariloche 8400, Argentina
Interests: tree growth; anatomical traits; plant architecture; stems and leaves; root/shoot traits

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The enduring relevance of plant anatomy and cell biology in botanical research can be attributed to the following reasons:

Continual Discovery: Despite over 200 years of study, there is still much to be discovered in the field of plant anatomy and cell biology. The complexity of plant structures and processes ensures that new findings are continually being made.

Foundation of Knowledge: Every new scientific study builds upon the knowledge gained from thousands of previous studies. Plant anatomy and cell biology form the bedrock of this knowledge, providing the fundamental understanding upon which new research is based.

Unsolved Problems: Many branches of botany still have unsolved problems. These challenges can be overcome with a deep understanding of plant anatomy and cell biology.

Diverse Applications: The knowledge of plant anatomy and cell biology is crucial for addressing diverse questions, from taxonomic relationships to physiological problems in crops. These fields provide the tools necessary for such investigations.

In conclusion, plant anatomy and cell biology remain at the forefront of botanical research due to their foundational role, the ongoing discovery they facilitate, their relevance to unsolved problems, and their wide-ranging applications. As we continue to delve into the intricacies of plant life, these fields will undoubtedly continue to be vital tools in our scientific arsenal.

Dr. Ana María Gonzalez
Prof. Dr. Javier Guido Puntieri
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Plants is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • angiosperms
  • vegetative anatomy
  • flowers
  • plant tissues
  • glandular cells
  • anatomical characters

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (5 papers)

Order results
Result details
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

18 pages, 9790 KiB  
Article
Exploring Hidden Connections: Endophytic System and Flower Meristem Development of Pilostyles berteroi (Apodanthaceae) and Interaction with Its Host Adesmia trijuga (Fabaceae)
by Ana Maria Gonzalez, María Florencia Romero and Héctor A. Sato
Plants 2024, 13(21), 3010; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13213010 - 28 Oct 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1077
Abstract
Pilostyles, an endoparasitic genus within the Apodanthaceae family, grows inside host stems with flowers and fruits being the only external manifestations. Previous studies of P. berteroi growing on Adesmia trijuga provided limited details of the endophyte and omitted the origin of flowers [...] Read more.
Pilostyles, an endoparasitic genus within the Apodanthaceae family, grows inside host stems with flowers and fruits being the only external manifestations. Previous studies of P. berteroi growing on Adesmia trijuga provided limited details of the endophyte and omitted the origin of flowers and sinker structure. This study, using classical methods of optical microscopy applied to the analysis with scanning electron microscopy and confocal laser scanning microscopy, expands the understanding of the P. berteroi/A. trijuga complex. We find that P. berteroi develops isophasically with its host, forming endophytic patches between the host’s secondary phloem cells. The parasitized Adesmia stem’s cambium primarily produces xylem parenchyma, with limited vessel production and halting fiber formation. The radial polarization of endophytic patches led to the formation of floral meristems. Flowers develop endogenously and emerge by the breakthrough of the host stem. Flowers are connected to the host cambium via chimeric sinkers, combining P. berteroi parenchyma and tracheoids with Adesmia vessels. Unlike previous studies that show uniformity among Pilostyles species, our analysis reveals new insights into the structural interaction between P. berteroi and A. trijuga. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Plant Anatomy and Cell Biology)
Show Figures

Graphical abstract

16 pages, 6851 KiB  
Article
Genome-Wide Characterization of IQD Family Proteins in Apple and Functional Analysis of the Microtubule-Regulating Abilities of MdIQD17 and MdIQD28 under Cold Stress
by Yu Zhang, Shengjie Wang, Chaochao Zhang, Meng Qi, Luoqi Liu, Lipeng Yang and Na Lian
Plants 2024, 13(17), 2532; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13172532 - 9 Sep 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 988
Abstract
Microtubules undergo dynamic remodeling in response to diverse abiotic stress in plants. The plant-specific IQ67 DOMAIN (IQD) family proteins serve as microtubule-associated proteins, playing multifaceted roles in plant development and response to abiotic stress. However, the biological function of IQD genes in apple [...] Read more.
Microtubules undergo dynamic remodeling in response to diverse abiotic stress in plants. The plant-specific IQ67 DOMAIN (IQD) family proteins serve as microtubule-associated proteins, playing multifaceted roles in plant development and response to abiotic stress. However, the biological function of IQD genes in apple remains unclear. In this study, we conducted a comprehensive analysis of the Malus domestica genome, identifying 42 IQD genes distributed across 17 chromosomes and categorized them into four subgroups. Promoter analysis revealed the presence of stress-responsive elements. Subsequent expression analysis highlighted the significant upregulation of MdIQD17 and MdIQD28 in response to cold treatments, prompting their selection for further functional investigation. Subcellular localization studies confirmed the association of MdIQD17 and MdIQD28 with microtubules. Crucially, confocal microscopy and quantification revealed diminished microtubule depolymerization in cells transiently overexpressing MdIQD17 and MdIQD28 compared to wild-type cells during cold conditions. In conclusion, this study provides a comprehensive analysis of IQD genes in apple, elucidating their molecular mechanism in response to cold stress. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Plant Anatomy and Cell Biology)
Show Figures

Figure 1

16 pages, 8483 KiB  
Article
Isolation of Haustorium Protoplasts Optimized by Orthogonal Design for Transient Gene Expression in Phelipanche aegyptiaca
by Xiaojian Zeng, Xiaolei Cao, Qiuyue Zhao, Siyuan Hou, Xin Hu, Zheyu Yang, Tingli Hao, Sifeng Zhao and Zhaoqun Yao
Plants 2024, 13(15), 2163; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13152163 - 5 Aug 2024
Viewed by 1311
Abstract
The efficient protoplast transient transformation system in plants is an important tool to study gene expression, metabolic pathways, and various mutagenic parameters, but it has not been established in Phelipanche aegyptiaca. As a root parasitic weed that endangers the growth of 29 [...] Read more.
The efficient protoplast transient transformation system in plants is an important tool to study gene expression, metabolic pathways, and various mutagenic parameters, but it has not been established in Phelipanche aegyptiaca. As a root parasitic weed that endangers the growth of 29 species of plants in 12 families around the world, there is still no good control method for P. aegyptiaca. Even the parasitic mechanisms of P. aegyptiaca and the related genes regulating parasitism are not yet understood. In this study, by comparing the factors related to protoplast isolation and transfection, we developed the optimal protocol for protoplast isolation and transfection in Phelipanche aegyptiaca haustorium. The optimal protoplast yield and activity were 6.2 × 106 protoplasts/g fresh weight [FW] and 87.85%, respectively, by using 0.5 mol/L mannitol, enzyme concentrations of 2.5% cellulase R-10 and 0.8% Macerozyme R-10 at 24 °C for 4 h. At the same time, transfection efficiency of protoplasts was up to 78.49% when using 30 μg plasmid, 40% polyethylene glycol (PEG) concentration, 24 °C incubation temperature, and 20 min transfection time. This is the first efficient protoplasts’ isolation and transient transformation system of Phelipanche aegyptiaca haustorium, laying a foundation for future studies on the gene function and mechanisms of haustorium formation in parasitic plants. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Plant Anatomy and Cell Biology)
Show Figures

Figure 1

21 pages, 3950 KiB  
Article
Lipids and Fatty Acid Composition Reveal Differences between Durum Wheat Landraces and Modern Cultivars
by Mara Mandrioli, Giovanni Maria Poggi, Giampiero Cai, Claudia Faleri, Marco Maccaferri, Roberto Tuberosa, Iris Aloisi, Tullia Gallina Toschi and Simona Corneti
Plants 2024, 13(13), 1817; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13131817 - 1 Jul 2024
Viewed by 1605
Abstract
Durum wheat (Triticum turgidum L. ssp. durum) landraces, traditional local varieties representing an intermediate stage in domestication, are gaining attention due to their high genetic variability and performance in challenging environments. While major kernel metabolites have been examined, limited research has [...] Read more.
Durum wheat (Triticum turgidum L. ssp. durum) landraces, traditional local varieties representing an intermediate stage in domestication, are gaining attention due to their high genetic variability and performance in challenging environments. While major kernel metabolites have been examined, limited research has been conducted on minor bioactive components like lipids, despite their nutritional benefits. To address this, we analyzed twenty-two tetraploid accessions, comprising modern elite cultivars and landraces, to (i) verify if the selection process for yield-related traits carried out during the Green Revolution has influenced lipid amount and composition; (ii) uncover the extent of lipid compositional variability, giving evidence that lipid fingerprinting effectively identifies evolutionary signatures; and (iii) identify genotypes interesting for breeding programs to improve yield and nutrition. Interestingly, total fat did not correlate with kernel weight, indicating lipid composition as a promising trait for selection. Tri- and di-acylglycerol were the major lipid components along with free fatty acids, and their relative content varied significantly among genotypes. In particular, landraces belonging to T. turanicum and carthlicum ecotypes differed significantly in total lipid and fatty acid profiles. Our findings provide evidence that landraces can be a genetically relevant source of lipid variability, with potential to be exploited for improving wheat nutritional quality. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Plant Anatomy and Cell Biology)
Show Figures

Figure 1

12 pages, 2578 KiB  
Article
Variability of Silver Fir Needle (Abies alba Mill.) Anatomical Features in the Southeast Europe Natural Populations
by Vladan Popović, Aleksandar Lučić, Ljubinko Rakonjac, Aleksandar Vemić, Sanja Jovanović, Biljana M. Nikolić and Danijela Miljković
Plants 2024, 13(10), 1307; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13101307 - 9 May 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1546
Abstract
The survival of marginal/peripheral silver fir (Abies alba Mill.) populations in the broader region of Southeast Europe is endangered due to climate change and population decline. This study aimed to determine the level and pattern of variability for the anatomical traits of [...] Read more.
The survival of marginal/peripheral silver fir (Abies alba Mill.) populations in the broader region of Southeast Europe is endangered due to climate change and population decline. This study aimed to determine the level and pattern of variability for the anatomical traits of needles and the possibility of linking the pattern of phenotypic variability with environmental factors. In most of the analyzed needle traits, the statistically significant variability between populations was determined. According to the results of the multivariate principal component analysis, it is evident that the populations are distinct from each other, in three groups. The climatic factors Hargreaves reference evaporation, mean annual temperature, and growing degree-days, were statistically significantly correlated. The altitude and heating degree-days are statistically significantly correlated with the following three environmental factors: Hargreaves reference evaporation, mean annual temperature and growing degree-days, but negatively with others. The paper’s findings indicate significant moderate and high correlations between the anatomical traits of the needles’ central bundle diameter with the resin duct diameter, the distance between the vascular bundle and the resin duct and the epidermis thickness with cuticle, the resin duct diameter with the distance between the vascular bundle and the resin duct and the epidermis thickness with cuticle, as well as the distance between the vascular bundle and the resin duct with the hypodermis height and the epidermis thickness with cuticle. The results of agglomerative hierarchical clustering analysis, performed for anatomical and climatic traits, confirmed the existence of three groups of tested populations according to the altitude gradient. Research results provide knowledge on the diversity and structure of Abies alba populations of Southeast Europe, important for further research and guidelines for the species’ conservation and genetic variability preservation in the southern marginal distribution area and keeping in line with climate change projections. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Plant Anatomy and Cell Biology)
Show Figures

Figure 1

Back to TopTop