XVI International Botanical Congess

Rhizodermis cells, namely trichoblasts, are of special interest for investigation due to their ability to give rise to root hairs. As our cross sections showed, rhizodermis of Beta vulgaris is composed of one longitudinal row of trichoblasts alternating with two to four rows of atrichoblasts. In rhizodermis these cells are at the quite different stages of maturation. Atrichoblasts are abundantly vacuolated as they reach the end step of maturation, trichoblasts are at the beginning of development. By means of immunofluorescence actin network in trichoblasts is visualized to be more dense at the tip region. That contributes to the idea of actin involvement in processes of growth. To study the impact of external stimuli on actin cytoskeleton of trichoblasts and root hairs appearing, the special protocol has been worked out. In our case heavy metals (Sr++), high Ca++ concentration and cytochalazin B are applied. We suggest that actin cytoskeleton is very sensitive and is able to react dynamically to the influence of different external factors.