Journal
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
Volume 4, Issue -, Pages -Publisher
FRONTIERS MEDIA SA
DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2013.00244
Keywords
phloem loading; heterogeneity; sieve elements; companion cells
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Funding
- National Science Foundation [IOS-1121254]
- U. S. Department of Agriculture-National Institute of Food and Agriculture [2011-67012-30774]
- Division Of Integrative Organismal Systems
- Direct For Biological Sciences [1121254] Funding Source: National Science Foundation
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The phloem is often regarded as a relatively straightforward transport system composed of loading (collection), long-distance (transport), and unloading (release) zones. While this simple view is necessary and useful in many contexts, it belies the reality, which is that the phloem is inherently complex. At least three types of sieve element companion cell complexes are found in minor veins of leaves. Individual species may have more than one type, indicating that they employ multiple loading strategies, even in the same vein. Gene expression data in particular point to heterogeneity in sieve element companion cell complexes of minor veins, perhaps in all flowering plants. Phloem heterogeneity in the transport phloem is also evident in many species based on anatomical, biochemical and gene expression data. In this regard, members of the Cucurbitaceae are especially complex and interesting. We conclude that a hidden world of specialized phloem function awaits discovery.
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