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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Stoneville, Mississippi » Crop Production Systems Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #212506
Title: Structural and Immunocytochemical Characterization of the Adhesive Tendril of Virginia Creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia (L.) Planch.)

Author
item Bowling, Andrew
item Vaughn, Kevin

Submitted to: Protoplasma
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/30/2007
Publication Date: 4/18/2008
Citation: Bowling, A.J., Vaughn, K.C. 2008. Structural and Immunocytochemical Characterization of the Adhesive Tendril of Virginia Creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia (L.) Planch.). Protoplasma 232:153-163.

Interpretive Summary: Weedy vines are an economically costly pest in subtropical and tropical climates. Very little is known about how vines climb over other plants or structures. In this study, we evaluated the non-coiling weed, Virginia creeper. This plant uses adhesive discs to cling to its support, thus it is able to ascend objects that would not be climbable for coiling-type vines such as large trees, houses, barns, etc. We have discovered that this plant uses modified cell wall components secreted from specialized cells to form a very effective adhesive substance. In addition to adding important insight into one of the mechanisms by which vines over-top other plants and structures, these findings also identify possible targets for future herbicides.

Technical Abstract: The tendrils of Virginia creeper do not coil around their supports. Rather, they adhere to supporting objects by flattening against the support surface and secreting an adhesive compound which firmly glues the tendril to the support. In this study, microscopic and immunocytochemical techniques were utilized to determine the nature of this adhesive. Following touch-stimulation, epidermal cells of the tendril elongate toward the support substrate, becoming papillate in morphology. Following contact with the support surface, an adhesive is produced at the base of the papillate cells. The adhesive appears as a highly heterogeneous, raft-like structure, and consists of pectinaceous, RG I-reactive components surrounding a callosic core. In addition, more mobile components, composed of arabinogalactans and mucilaginous pectins, intercalate both the support and the tendril, penetrating the tendril to the proximal ends of the papillate cells. Following adherence to the support, the anticlinal walls of the papillate cells are devoid of RG I side-chain reactivity, indicating that extensive debranching of RG I molecules has taken place. Furthermore, a large amount of RG I backbone reactivity was observed in the contact area. These results may indicate that the debranched RG I molecules diffuse into and permeate the contact region, forming an integral part of the adhesive compound. These results indicate that Virginia creeper adheres to objects using a composite adhesive structure consisting of debranched RG I, callose, and other, less-well characterized mucilaginous pectins and that this structure subsequently becomes lignified and very weather-resistant upon the ultimate senescence of the tendril.