Summary
The intracellular localization of partially O-methylated flavonol glucosides was studied inChrysosplenium americanum leaves using caffeine as stabilizing and visualizing reagent. Electron microscopic observations and chromatographic data indicated that intracellular flavonoids were found to accumulate mainly within the walls of epidermal and mesophyll cells. Various membrane profiles and associated vesicles appeared to be involved in the packaging and channelling of the electron-dense material towards the cell wall. There was no evidence to suggest the participation of chloroplasts in these processes. The significance of flavonoid accumulation in cell walls was discussed in relation to the nature of these compounds and their possible ecophysiological role in this plant.
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Abbreviations
- ER:
-
endoplasmic reticulum
- HPLC:
-
high-performance liquid chromatography
- TLC:
-
thin-layer chromatography
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Charest, P.M., Brisson, L. & Ibrahim, R.K. Ultrastructural features of flavonoid accumulation in leaf cells ofChrysosplenium americanum . Protoplasma 134, 95–101 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01275707
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01275707