THE PLANT CELL, Vol 5, Issue 5 541-552, Copyright © 1993 by American Society of Plant Biologists
Cell Communication, Stochastic Cell Responses, and Anthocyanin Pattern in Mustard Cotyledons
P. Nick, B. Ehmann, M. Furuya and E. Schafer
Laboratory of Plant Biological Regulation, Frontier Research Program, Riken Institute, Hirosawa 2-1, Wako-shi, 351-01 Saitama, Japan
The role of intercellular signals in plant development was investigated
using phytochrome-induced formation of anthocyanin in cotyledons of white
mustard as a model system. The problem was approached by irradiating
different subregions of the cotyledon with a microbeam. This technique was
combined with in situ hybridization of chalcone synthase mRNA after
irradiation of the entire cotyledon. Individual cells that exhibited
all-or-none responses with a resultant stochastic, patchy pattern were
examined during early stages of anthocyanin synthesis. It was demonstrated
that the responses of individual cells were subsequently integrated by
long-range inhibitory signals. This process led to ordered and gradually
developing patterns that could be detected when final stages were analyzed
at the whole-organ level. The significance of these findings is discussed
in terms of efforts toward a general understanding of photomorphogenesis in
plants.
