Publication Date

1994

Document Type

Dissertation/Thesis

First Advisor

Stafstrom, Joel P.

Degree Name

M.S. (Master of Science)

Legacy Department

Department of Biological Sciences

LCSH

Peas--Dormancy; Growth (Plants)--Regulation; Plant cell cycle

Abstract

Apical dominance allows the use of a natural system to study the reversible dormancy/growth cycles found in pea axillary buds. Axillary buds on intact pea seedlings are dormant. After decapitation of the terminal bud, the axillary buds begin to grow rapidly. In this study, the cell cycle has been analyzed using phase-specific expression of cloned genes and flow cytometry. This information was used to determine the relationship between dormancy/growth cycles and regulation of the cell cycle. Several clones were sequenced and their patterns of expression were analyzed by RNA gel blotting. Clones that were identified by sequence similarity were homologs of ribosomal protein L34, histone H2A and histone H4. In small buds (second largest at node two), the expression of ribosomal protein L27 and L34 clones were correlated with the reversible dormancy to growth stages of axillary bud development. Flow cytometry analysis of cells in S-phase demonstrated that dormant buds contained both G1 and G2 cell populations at approximately a 3:1 ratio. Histone H2A and H4 mRNAs (S-phase markers) accumulated within 1 to 6 hours, indicating the G1 cell population had entered S-phase shortly after decapitation. This suggested a G1/S checkpoint that occurred immediately before the S-phase boundary. A peak of mitotic cells 3 hours after decapitation indicated the G2 cell population also began to proliferate shortly after decapitation. This suggested a second checkpoint located directly before the boundary into mitosis (G2/M). These two cell populations, located at the G1/S and G2/M checkpoints, proliferated (entered the cell cycle) shortly after decapitation of the terminal bud.

Comments

Includes bibliographical references (pages [70]-74).

Extent

vii, 74 pages

Language

eng

Publisher

Northern Illinois University

Rights Statement

In Copyright

Rights Statement 2

NIU theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from Huskie Commons for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without the written permission of the authors.

Media Type

Text

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