| Apical root meristems and segments of root elongation zone were sampled from 4- to 5-day-old Zea mays L. seedlings. The vacuolar ATPase and pyrophosphatase, the tonoplast marker enzymes, and the tonoplast α-, δ-, and γ-aquaporins were visualized by means of indirect immunofluorescent microscopy with the use of the respective antibodies. Following cell plasmolysis (700 mM mannitol, 2.5 h), the vacuolar ATPase and pyrophosphatase were detected in cell wall pores where plasmodesmata remained detached from the plasmolyzed protoplasts. This finding provides further evidence for existence of the vacuolar symplast in the elongation zone of maize root, which may ensure intercellular continuity of plant tissues. The pulsed NMR method was used to study the self-diffusion of water molecules. The diffusive decay in the root elongation zone was nonexponential, and it was transformed to three exponential terms with characteristic coefficients of self-diffusion; two of these coefficients (D2 and D3) characterize the water self-diffusion in the cytoplasmic and vacuolar symplasts of root, respectively. The root apical meristem was also investigated with NMR technique by virtue of paramagnetic doping of the apoplast. This approach allowed selective studying of water diffusion within the symplast compartments. Partial dehydration with PEG-6000, 12 and 20%, for 2.5 h and chemical stressors (ABA and salicylic acid, 0.1 mM, 24 h) were applied to modify water permeability of plasmodesmata and tonoplast aquaporins. The transcellular water permeability increased in the root meristem under the action of all stress factors. In the root elongation zone exposed to partial dehydration, the water exchange in the apoplast became the dominant component. Other stress factors affected water relations in different manners. ABA elevated the water permeability of the vacuolar symplast, in contrast to salicylic acid that decreased water conductance of both the cytoplasmic and vacuolar symplasts. |
