The occurrence and ontogeny of transfer cells associated with lateral roots and root nodules in Leguminosae

Abstract

Xylem parenchyma transfer cells are present in the stele of the root tissue adjacent to emergent effective root nodules of garden pea (Pisum sativum), red kidney bean (Phaseolus vulgaris), broad bean (Vicia faba), soybean (Glycine max), and mung bean (Vigna radiata), two types of ineffective pea nodules, and emergent lateral roots of pea. The xylem parenchyma transfer cells contain many polyribosomes and mitochondria near the wall ingrowths which are located adjacent to pits in the xylem elements. Pericycle transfer cells also occur in the three types of pea nodules. In effective pea nodules wall ingrowths begin to form in the pericycle cells 5 days after inoculation with Rhizobium leguminosarum; at this stage rhizobia are only present in the root hair but the cortical cells have enlarged and some have undergone mitosis. The wall ingrowths begin to form in the xylem parenchyma cells 7–8 days after inoculation or the approximate time that rhizobia begin to be released from the infection thread. In both instances the wall ingrowths begin to form before the onset of dinitrogen reduction although previous workers have suggested that a flux of nitrogenous compounds (containing fixed N) induces their formation. The development of wall ingrowths in ineffective pea nodules also occurs independently of nitrogen fixation. Similarly, the wall ingrowths located near soybean nodules also begin to develop before the onset of nitrogen fixation.