Journal article
Reaction tissue formation and stem tensile modulus properties in wild-type and p-coumarate-3-hydroxylase downregulated lines of alfalfa, Medicago sativa (Fabaceae)
American journal of botany, Vol.94(6), pp.912-925
06/2007
Handle:
https://hdl.handle.net/2376/106573
PMID: 21636460
Abstract
To our knowledge, xylary reaction tissue has never been reported in a forage crop species. Here we report the discovery of reaction tissue in a transgenic line of Medicago sativa (pC3H, for the gene for p-coumarate-3-hydroxylase) with reduced lignin content and in the wild-type (WT) line. Based on microscopy and biomechanical testing of internodal alfalfa branch sections, the transgenic (pC3H-I) line, relative to the WT (1) apparently formed more reaction tissue containing gelatinous fibers with adjacent thick-walled fibers (presumed to be "intermediate" tissue) more rapidly, (2) had more xylem tissue, and (3) had comparable tensile dynamic modulus properties. These findings thus establish the (limited) ability of this perennial angiosperm to form (inducible) reaction tissue in a manner somewhat analogous to that of woody arborescent angiosperms. The potential of effectuating reductions in lignin amounts in (woody) angiosperms with increased formation of reaction (tension wood) tissue is discussed because reaction tissues are often viewed as a deleterious trait in processing for many agronomic/industrial applications, especially with the current interest in biofuels.
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Details
- Title
- Reaction tissue formation and stem tensile modulus properties in wild-type and p-coumarate-3-hydroxylase downregulated lines of alfalfa, Medicago sativa (Fabaceae)
- Creators
- Ann M Patten - The Institute of Biological Chemistry, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington 99164-6340 USAMichaël JourdesElvie E BrownMarie-Pierre LaborieLaurence B DavinNorman G Lewis
- Publication Details
- American journal of botany, Vol.94(6), pp.912-925
- Academic Unit
- Biological Chemistry, Institute of
- Publisher
- United States
- Identifiers
- 99900546992001842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article