P-Protein Crystals do not Disperse in Uninjured Sieve Elements in Roots of Runner Bean (Phaseolus multiflorus) fixed with Glutaraldehyde

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Abstract
Light and electron microscopy of the P-protein (slime) crystals in sieve elements in roots of the runner bean (Phaseolus multiporus) shows that the crystals occur and persist routinely in mature later-formed sieve elements. Both components of the crystals, tails and central bodies, remain compact and undispersed. This condition contrasts with that reported in stems in which previous authors have shown, by means of electron micrographs, that the central bodies of crystals fixed in glutaraldehyde seem to disperse as the sieve elements differentiate. I suggest that stems may be slowly enough fixed by glutaraldehyde for central bodies to have time to respond to loss of turgor pressure but that more permeable roots may be more quickly fixed and may not face the same circumstance.

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