Plant Aging: Basic and Applied Approaches

424 Pages·1990·6.629 MB·English

by  Victorio S. Trippi (auth.), Roberto Rodríguez, R. Sánchez Tamés, D. J. Durzan (eds.)

Plant Aging
Basic and Applied
Approaches
NATO ASI Series
Advanced Science Institutes Series
A series presenting the results of activities sponsored by the NA TO Science Committee,
which aims at the dissemination of advanced scientific and technological knowledge,
with a view to strengthening links between scientific communities.
The series is published by an international board of publishers in conjunction with the
NATO Scientific Affairs Division
A Life Sciences Plenum Publishing Corporation
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C Mathematical Kluwer Academic Publishers
and Physical Sciences Dordrecht, Boston, and London
o
Behavioral and Social Sciences
E Applied Sciences
F Computer and Systems Sciences Springer-Verlag
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Volume 185-Modern Concepts in Penicillium and Aspergillus Classification
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Volume 186-Plant Aging: Basic and Applied Approaches
edited by Roberto Rodriguez, R. Sanchez Tames, and D. J. Durzan
Series A: Life Sciences
Plant Aging
Basic and Applied
Approaches
Edited by
Roberto Rodriguez and R. Sanchez Tames
University of Oviedo
Oviedo, Spain
and
D.J. Durzan
University of California, Davis
Davis, California
Plenum Press
New York and London
Published in cooperation with NATO Scientific Affairs Division
Proceedings of a NATO Advanced Study Institute
on Molecular Basis of Plant Aging,
held July 2-15, 1989,
in Ribadesella, Spain
Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data
Plant aging: basic and applied approaches I edited by Roberto Rodriguez and
R. Sanchez Tames, and D. J. Durzan.
p. cm.-(NATO ASI series. Series A, Life sciences; vol. 186)
"Published in cooperation with NATO Scientific Affairs Division."
"Proceedings of a NATO Advanced Study Institute on Molecular Basis of
Plant Aging, held July 2-15,1989 in Ribadeselia, Spain"-Copr. p.
Includes bibliographical references.
ISBN-13: 978-1-4684-5762-9 e-ISBN-13: 978-1-4684-5760-5
DOl: 10.1007/978-1-4684-5760-5
1. Plants-Aging-Congresses. 2. Plant propagation-Congresses. I.
Rodriguez, Roberto. II. Sanchez, Tames, R. III. Durzan, D. J. IV. North Atlantic
Treaty Organization. Scientific Affairs Division. V. NATO Advanced Study In
stitute on Molecular Basis of Plant Aging (1989: Ribadeselia, Spain) VI. Series:
NATO ASI series. Series A, Life sciences; v. 186.
QK762.5.P58 1990 90-6996
582'.0372-dc20 CIP
© 1990 Plenum Press, New York
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No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted
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ORGANIZING AND SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE
RODRIGUEZ, R. Lab. Fisiologia Vegetal, Dpto. B.O.S.
Facultad de Biologia, Universidad de
Oviedo. Arias de Velasco, sin.
33005 Oviedo. Spain
DURZAN, D. Department of Environmental Horti
culture. University of California.
Davis, CA 95616 USA
PAIS, M.S. Departamento de Biologia Vegetal
Facultade de Ciencias de Lisboa,
Boco C2, Campo Grande 1700. Lisboa
Portugal
WITHERS, L.A. International Board for Plant Gene
tic Resources. clo Food and Agricul
ture Organization of the United Na
tion. Via delle Terme di Caracalla
00100 Rome. Italy
TRAl.~ THANH-VAN, K. Institut de Physiologie V~g~tale.
CNRS, 91190 Gif sur Yvette. France.
SANCHEZ TAMES, R. Lab. Fisiologia Vegetal, Dpto. B.O.S
Facultad de Biologia, Universidad de
Oviedo. Arias de Velasco, sin.
33005 Oviedo. Spain
SABATER, B. Dpto. de Biologfa Vegetal, Universi
dad de Alcal~ de Henares. Apdo. 20,
Alcal~ de Henares. 28871-Madrid.
Spain
NORTON, C.R. Faculty of Environmental Studies
Meriot-Watt University
Edinburgh, E43 9 DF. Scotland
PASQUALETO, P.L. Azienda Agricola Meristema SRL.
Laboratorio di micropropagazione,
Via Martiri della liberta, n. 13,
56030 Cascine di Buti (Pisa), Italy
PREFACE
For many, the terms aging, maturation and senescence
are synonymous and used interchangeably, but they should not
be. Whereas senescence represents an endogenously controlled
degenerative programme leading to plant or organ death,
genetiC aging encompasses a wide array of passive
degenerative genetiC processes driven primarily by exogenous
factors (Leopold, 1975). Aging is therefore considered a
consequence of genetiC lesions that accumulate over time,
but by themselves do not necessarily cause death. These
lesions are probably made more severe by the increase in
size and complexity in trees and their attendant physiology.
Thus while the withering of flower petals following
pollination can be considered senescence, the loss of
viability of stored seeds more clearly represents aging
(Norden, 1988). The very recent book "Senescence and Aging
in Plants" does not discuss trees, the most dominant group
of plants on the earth. Yet both angiospermic and
gymnospermic trees also undergo the above phenomena but less
is known about them. Do woody plants senesce or do they just
age? What is phase change? Is this synonymous with
maturation?
While it is now becoming recognized that there is no
programmed senescence in trees, senescence of their parts,
even in gymnosperms (e. g., needles of temperate conifers
las t an average of 3.5 years), is common; but aging is a
readily acknowledged phenomenon. In theory, at least, in the
absence of any programmed senescence trees should -live
forever, but in practice they do not. Is death simply a
response to external environmental factors? As trees grow
older, their growth rates decrease, and although they
apparently never stop growing, very old trees increase in
size rather insignificantly. Under natural conditions, a
plot of the cumulative height and diameter growth by
dominant trees in a stand exhibits a sigmoidal growth curve,
with the maximum annual increment occurring relatively early
in the age of the tree (Assma~n, 1970, quoted in Greenwood,
1988). The time at which the maximum increment occurs
appears to be species-specific; and for the same species
occurs later on relative poor soils, but at the same
relative height and diameter. While there is little doubt
that the maximum size a tree can attain is primarily a
function of its genetics, is incremental growth more a
function of size rather than chronological age? Is the
phase-change process a consequence of the amount of growth
that has occurred or is it the result of the physiological
consequences of increased size (Greenwood, 1988)?
There are other equally intriguing questions. Do the
above changes arise from the accumulation of harmful
metabolites with time, or from the physical, biophysical and
physiological consequences of trees 'having to sustain such a
large mass, the requeriments to move large volumes of water
and nutrients, and photosynthates over great distances?
Although the debate as to whether meristems themselves age
continues, more and more researchers have come to accept
this idea, as first suggested by Shaffali tsky de flluckadell
(1959); so much so that today we accept the fact that the
oldest part of a tree chronologically is the youngest part
developmentally, and attempt to utilize this fact in clonal
propagation of woody plants.
The organizers of the 1989 NATO Advanced Study
Insti tute (ASI) on the "Molecular Basis of Plant Aging"
recognized these and other dilemmas we face in undQrstanding
the behaviour of woody plants. They explicitly state that
"Aging is a phenomenon of considerable theoretical
importance in relation to morphogenic control,
differentiation and determination in plant development. It
also has practical importance due to its implication in
several economical areas such as flowering, fruit set, "in
vitro" tree manipulation, genetic improvement, etc".
Al though many theories have been advanced to explain
aging, the mechanisms involved in this process still are
among the least understood factors in biology. Thus, to
increase our knowledge in this scientific field will be very
useful for a better understanding of plant biology.
Due to the loss of morphogenic competence, aging is one
of the most critical barriers to capture special genetic
trai ts of selected trees. In order to fully exploit the
possibili ties that tissue culture technologies provide for
forest tree improvement, it is imperative to establish first
the conditions to maintain plant tissues in their most
reactive phase.
Thus I was delighted to accept the invitation of Prof.
Roberto Rodriguez of the University of Oviedo, to
participate in this ASI, which was held in Ribadesella,
Asturias, Spain from June 25 to July 8, 1989. The objective
of such ASI is to disseminate advanced knowledge not yet in
University curricula and foster international scientific
contacts through high level teaching courses. The organizers
of this ASI accepted this mandate, and rose to the challenge
of providing a detailed description of the process which
occurs during aging. Thus, 'Some 70 participants from 15
countries, consisting of graduate students, post doctoral
fellows, recently and long established researchers from
Uni versi ties, Government Research Insti tutions and Private
Industry assembled in ribadesella to address their charge.
The programme was divided into five sections, namely,
1. Juvenility, maturation and rejuvenation, 2. Vegetative
propagation, advantages and limitations, 3. Ultrastructural,
genetic and biochemical characteristics of aging and
senescence, 4. Modulators of aging and maturation, and 5.
Genetic manipulations. Information was presented in the form
of major lectures (review and primary data), posters and
short presentations. The work of each section ended with a
round-table discussion. The results of these deliberations
are captured in this volume.
It is not easy to summarize in a few sentences the gist
of a meeting with so wide a theme and with such a large
number of presentations, both oral and by posters.
Nevertheless, in a very superficial way, one can divide the
meeting in two very broad areas. These were: 1) problems and
practices of woody plant tissue culture, and 2) biochemical
and molecular aspects of aging. Any such division is bound
to be arbitrary and several papers in this volume fall into
nei ther area, and perhaps this division structuralizes the
ASI, which has led to the production of this very important
volume.
A number of papers dealt with the culture and
manipulation of woody plants, particularly as these were
affected by the maturation process. Some technology, such as
use of the vibratome for explant production, thin layer
methodology and micrografting techniques, was also
presented. Factors affecting culture establishment and
multiplication, problems of vitrification, polyphenol
production, generation of somaclonal variation, the use of
minimal culture media, including the possible harmful
effects of cytokinins, and the gEl.seous environment on the
cultures all received attention. Because mature woody
species are less responsive in culture, not only was the
nature of the phase-change discussed, but empirical
approaches to reactivate or reinvigorate woody explants for
ease of manipulation in culture were also described. Some
physiological and biochemical aspects of regeneration were
also covered.
The second major focus was on the genetic biochemical
and molecular basis of phase change, and aging in woody
species. The use of information from senescent herbaceous
systems served as a model for understanding aging and its
related phenomena, as many of the manifestations of aging
are similar to senescence. Nitrogen metabolism, oxidative
stress, free radical generation, and the role of
phytohormones were among the topics covered. One view that
seemed to emerge is that the rate of results from aging, a
balance between oxidative stress damage and regenerative
repair capacity. Lastly, the potential genetic manipulation
of forest trees by traditional and molecular approaches to
generate the forest tree of tomorrow highlighted the last
session.
The value of NATO ASIs, such as this one, cannot be
overestimated. It brought together citizens of various
countries, scientists from different disciplines, people of
both sexes and of different ages and experiences for a
period of two weeks to think on the common topic. Different
perspectives were brought to bear on the subject and the
format allowed for the free and unfettened exchange of
ideas. Although many questions remain uncovered, we are all
a little clearer in our understanding of aging and
maturation in woody plants, of the role that stress plays in
tissue cultures, etc. This volume' allows us to share our
experiences with a much wider audience. A trust that all of
you who read and study their articles will gain as much
knowledge and pleasure in doing so, as we who participated
in this ASI had during our two weeks in Ribadesella.
The organizers and Scientific Committee under the
Directorships of Roberto Rodriguez and Don Durzan deserve
our sincere gratitude for job well done.
Trevor A. Thorpe
Professor of Botany, Department of
Biological Sciences; and Associate
Dean (Research) Faculty of Science,
Univ. of Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
REFERENCES
GREENWOOD, M. 1988. The effect of phase change on annual
growth increment in Eastern Larch. INRA-IUFRO International
Symposium on Forest Tree Physiology, Nancy, France, Sept.
25-30.
LEOPOLD, A.C. 1975. Aging, senescence and turnover in
plants. BioScience 25: 654-662.
NORDEN, L.D •. 1988. The phenomena of senescence and aging.
In: "Senescence and Aging in Plants" (Norden LD and Leopold,
AC, eds.). pp. 1-50. Academic Press, New York.
NORDEN, L.D. and LEOPOLD, A.C. 1988. Senescence and Aging in
Plants. Academic Press, New York. 526 pp.
SCHAFFALITSKY DE MUCKADELL, M. 1959. Investigations on aging
of apical meristems in woody plants its importance in
silviculture. Torstl. Torsgsv. Danm. 25: 310-455.
CONTENTS
SECTION I:
AGING, MATURATION AND REJUVENATION
Aging of Meristems and Morphogenetic Potentialities ••••••••••••••• 3
V.S. Trippi
Maturation and Senescence: Types of Aging ••••••••••••••••••••••••• 11
V.S. Trippi
Adult vs. Juvenile Explants: Directed Totipotency ••••••••••••••••• 19
D.J. Durzan
Recovery of Transient Juvenile Capacities During
Micropropagation of Filbert •••..••.••••••••••.••••••••••••• 27
C. Diaz-Sala, M. Rey and R. Rodriguez
Juvenility and Maturity of Woody Species in New Zealand ••••••••••• 37
J.L. Oliphant
Development of Rejuvenation Methods for "in vitro"
Establishment, Multiplication and Rooting
of Mature Trees............................................ 43
A. Ballester, M.C. Sanchez, F.C. San-Jose,
F.J. Vieitez and A.M. Vieitez
Aging in Tree Species: Present Knowledge.......................... 51
A. Meier-Dinkel amd J. Kleinschmit
SECTION II:
VEGETATIVE PROPAGATION: ADVANTAGES AND LIMITATIONS
Special Problems and Prospects in the Propagation
of Woody Species........................................... 67
T.A. Thorpe and I.S. Harry
Factors Affecting Tissue Culture Success in Mass
Propagation. • • • • • • . • • • • • . • . . • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • . • • . • • • • • • • • • 75
P.L. Pasqualetto
Effective Handling of Plant Tissue Culture ••••••..••••••.•..•••.•• 81
R. Sanchez Tames, B. Fernandez Muniz and
J.P. Majada
vii