Early effects of boron deficiency on physical cell wall parameters, hydraulic conductivity and plasmalemma-bound reductase activities in young C. pepo and V. faba roots

Abstract

Rapid effects of boron (B) starvation were investigated in squash (Cucurbita pepo) and bean (Vicia faba) roots. A transitory decrease of the cell wall elastic modulus (ε) and a concomitant increase of the cell hydraulic conductivity up to fourfold have been observed by measurement with the cell pressure probe. This is in line with a putative role of B in determinating the cell wall physical parameters by the formation of cross links in the pectate fraction.