Clinorotation Affects the Ultrastructure of Pea Root Mitochondria

Effects of clinorotation on the mitochondrial ultrastructure in cells of meristem, distal and central elongation zones of 3- and 5-day-old etiolated roots of pea seedling roots were studied. It was shown that mitochondria in cells of examined root growth zones revealed a different sensitivity to clinorotation. The ultrastructure of mitochondria in the meristem and central elongation zone cells did not substantially change in comparison with stationary control. At the same time, changes in the mitochondrial ultrastructure in cells of the distal elongation zone under clinorotation were observed, namely: decrease in the size of mitochondria, as well as increase in both matrix electron density and crista volume. Such changes in the mitochondrial ultrastructure under clinorotation are supposed to display the rearrangements of energy metabolism in cells of the distal elongation zone in these conditions.