XVI International Botanical Congess

Developing tracheary elements (TEs) from cultured Zinnia cells were used to examine the role of the Golgi during lignification of secondary cell walls. TEs were treated with BFA, a Golgi disrupting inhibitor. Developing TEs treated with BFA after initiation of cell wall synthesis were examined for the transport of lignin precursors or enzymes by Golgi vesicles. TEs were treated with 8 mg/mL BFA every two hours between 56-68h, then collected at 96h. The number of cells lignified was assayed by phloroglucinol staining or relative lignin amounts by acetyl bromide/acetic acid extraction. Control cells had a steady increase in the number of lignified TEs at 56-66h inhibited by BFA up to 64h. This suggested Golgi-derived vesicles are important for the lignification process. LRB was supported by the Keck Undergraduate Science Program.