Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol 49, 163-170, Copyright © 1998 by Oxford University Press
S Assmann and T Baskin
The development of stomatal guard cells is known to require cortical
microtubules; however, it is not known if microtubules are also required by
mature guard cells for stomatal function. To study the role of microtubules
in guard cell function, epidermal peels of Vicia faba
were subjected to conditions known to open or close stomata in the presence
or absence of microtubule inhibitors. To verify the action of the
inhibitors, microtubules in appropriately treated epidermal peels were
localized by cryofixation followed by freeze substitution and embedding in
butyl-methyl methacrylate. Mature guard cells had a radial array of
microtubules, focused toward the thick cell wall of the pore, and the
appearance of this array was the same for stomata remaining closed in
darkness or induced to open by light. Treatment of epidermal peels with 1
mM colchicine for 1 h depolymerized nearly all cortical microtubules.
Measurements of stomatal aperture showed that neither 1 mM colchicine nor
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ARTICLES
The function of guard cells does not require an intact array of cortical microtubules
Biology Department, 208 Mueller Laboratory, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA; Division of Biological Sciences, 109 Tucker Hall, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211-7400, USA; Corresponding author e-mail: baskin@biosci.mbp.missouri.edu
M taxol affected any of the responses
tested: remaining closed in the dark, opening in response to light or
fusicoccin, and closing in response to calcium and darkness. We conclude
that intact microtubule arrays are not invariably required for guard cell
function.Key words: Colchicine, cortical microtubules,
cryofixation, guard cells, stomata, taxol, Vicia faba.
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