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Title: 3D Reconstruction of Frozen Plant Tissue: a unique histological analysis to image post-freeze responses

Author
item Livingston, David
item Tuong, Tan

Submitted to: Book Chapter
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/10/2013
Publication Date: 5/6/2014
Citation: Livingston, D.P., Tuong, T.D. 2014. 3D Reconstruction of Frozen Plant Tissue: a unique histological analysis to image post-freeze responses. Book Chapter. p.107-117.

Interpretive Summary: In this manuscript, the usefulness of the light microscope in understanding winterhardiness is illustrated by showing how the interior of winter cereal crowns respond to freezing during a period of recovery. Using vital stains and other stains that show specific responses we show how regions of dead and live tissue permeate the crown and make the evaluation of freezing resistance very complicated. A unique 3D analysis of the inside of the crown is presented and shows that dead tissue within the center of the crown of oat is isolated from the rest of the crown. This was a unique response not found in the other winter cereals, rye, wheat and barley.

Technical Abstract: Winter hardiness in plants is the result of a complex interaction between genes, the tissue where those genes are expressed and the environment. The light microscope is a valuable tool to understand this complexity which will ultimately help researchers improve the tolerance of plants to freezing stress. In a series of histological analyses of winter cereal crops we identified a unique response of oat, that was not found in rye, wheat or barley. This response was in the form of a barrier that separated live from dead tissue within the crown. A 3d reconstruction is described that gives an unprecedented view of the interior of the crown during recovery from freezing.