1 TRANSFER CELLS IN ECONOMICALLY IMPORTANT CROP PLANTS: STRUCTURE, FUNCTION AND MOLECULAR MECHANSIMS

Abstract: Transfer cells are highly specialized plant cells in which cell wall ingrowths increase the surface area of plasma membrane, and abundant mitochondria provide high levels of energy for facilitated membrane transport. Number of studies using light and electron microscopes reported that transfer cells exist in most economically important crops and developed from many types of plant cells. Several lines of physiological and cell biological research suggest that transfer cells may play significant roles on nutrients uptake (especially under deficiency condition) and assimilate transport. It appears that many plants have the genetic competence to develop transfer cells to enhance their capacity for transport of sugars, amino acids and metal ions. However, very little is known about the molecular components and their underlying mechanism(s) involved in transfer cell develop and functioning. Using contemporary functional genomics tools, we are identifying the genes expressed in wheat nucellar projection transfer cells, and will continue to explore the molecular mechanism(s) governing transfer cell development and function. Assimilate transport, functional genomics, leaf, nutrient uptake, root, seed, cell wall ingrowths