518Accesses
75Citations
3 Altmetric
Summary
Cytochemical methods have been used to study the distribution of acid phosphatase, esterase, ribonuclease, amylase and protease activity in the stimulated and unstimulated leaf glands ofPinguicula grandiflora, P. vulgaris, P. lusitanica, andP. caudata. Two gland types are present, stalked and sessile. The stalked glands bear a muco-polysaccharide secretion droplet, and are concerned with capture of the prey; the sessile glands are specialised for digestion. In unstimulated glands of both classes, acid phosphatase, esterase and ribonuclease activity is associated with the anticlinal walls of the head cells, which have a characteristic spongy inner surface, comparable with that of transfer cells. Acid phosphatase and esterase activity was also detected in the vacuoles of the head cells of the sessile glands. Substrate film tests showed that amylase is readily released from the stalked glands but not from the sessile ones, while in contrast proteolytic activity is mainly associated with the sessile glands.
On stimulation by suitable nitrogenous materials, the glands begin to sectete fluid onto the leaf surface within 1 hr. During the process the enzymes held in the spongy walls are discharged, and activity is also lost from the intracellular sites in the sessile glands.
Digestion on the leaf surface and resorption of the products has been followed autoradiographically after feeding of14C-labelled protein. Within 2 hr, digestion products enter the leaf, and move towards the margin in the vascular system. Movement out of the leaf begins within 12 hr. Microautoradiographs showed a concentration of products around the bases of the sessile glands and in the cells of the gland head, showing that these glands are involved in resorption as well as secretion.
A possible mechanism of gland function is discussed.
This is a preview of subscription content,log in via an institution to check access.
Access this article
Subscribe and save
- Starting from 10 chapters or articles per month
- Access and download chapters and articles from more than 300k books and 2,500 journals
- Cancel anytime
Buy Now
Price includes VAT (Japan)
Instant access to the full article PDF.
Similar content being viewed by others
Explore related subjects
Discover the latest articles, books and news in related subjects, suggested using machine learning.References
Arisz, W. H.: Significance of the symplast theory for transport across the root. Protoplasma (Wien)46, 5–62 (1956).
Barka, T., Anderson, P. J.: Histochemical methods for acid phosphatase using hexazonium pararosanilin as coupler. J. Histochem. Cytochem.10, 741–753 (1962).
Batalin, A.: Mechanik der Bewegungen der insektenfressenden Pflanzen. Flora60, 145–154 (1877).
Behre, K.:Physiologische und zytologische UntersuchungenüberDrosera. Planta (Berl.)7, 208–306 (1929).
Darwin, C.: Insectivorous plants. London: Murray 1875.
Darwin, F.: Experiments on the nutrition ofDrosera rotundifolia. J. Linn. Soc. Bot.17, 17–32 (1878).
Dernby, K. G.: Die proteolytischen Enzyme derPinguicula vulgaris. Bioch. Z.80, 152–158 (1927).
Enwright, J., Frye, F., Atwal, O.: Ribonuclease activity of peripheral leucocytes and serum in rabies-susceptible and rabies-refractory mice. J. Histochem. Cytochem.13, 515–517 (1965).
Fenner, C. A.: Beiträge zur Kenntnis der Anatomie, Entwicklungsgeschichte und Biologie der Laubblätter und Drüsen einiger Insektivoren. Flora93, 335–434 (1904).
Fratello, B.: Enhanced interpretation of tissue protease activity by use of photographic colour film as a substrate. Stain Technol.43, 125–128 (1968).
Goebel, K.: Pflanzenbiologische Schilderungen, Teil 2. Marburg: Elwer 1891.
Gunning, B. E. S., Pate, J. S., Briatry, L. G.: Specialized “transfer cells” in minor veins of leaves and their possible significance in phloem translocation. J. Cell Biol.37, C7-C12 (1968).
Haberlandt, G.: Physiologische Pflanzenanatomie. Leipzig: Engelmann 1884.
—: Physiological plant anatomy,transln. of 4th ed. London: Macmillan 1914.
Harder, R.: Blütenbildung durch tierische Zusatznarhrung und andere Faktoren beiUtricularia exoleta. Planta (Berl.)59, 459–471 (1963).
— Zemlin, I.: The development of flowering ofPinguicula lusitanica in axenic culture. Planta(Berl.)73, 181–193 (1967).
——:Blütenbildung vonPinguicula lusitanica in vitro durch Fütterung mit Pollen. Planta (Berl.)78, 72–78 (1968).
Heslop-Harrison, J., Heslop-Harrison, Y.: Evaluation of pollen viability by enzymatically induced fluorescence: intracellular hydrolysis of fluorescein diacetate. Stain Technol.45, 115–120 (1970).
Heslop-Harrison, Y.: Winter dormancy and vegetative propagation in IrishPinguicula grandiflora Lamk. Proc. roy. Irish Acad.62, 23–30 (1962).
—: Scanning electron microscopy of fresh leaves ofPinguicula. Science167, 172–174 (1970).
Klein, J.:Pinguicula alpina, als insektfressende Pflanze und in anatomischer Beziehung. Beitr. Biol. Pflanzen3, 163–185 (1883).
Knox, R. B., Heslop-Harrison, J.: Cytochemical localization of enzymes in the wall of the pollen grain. Nature (Lond.)223, 92–94 (1969).
——:Pollen-wall proteins: localization and enzymatic activity. J. Cell. Sci.6, 1–27 (1970a).
——: Direct demonstration of the low permeability of the angiosperm meiotic tetrad using a fluorogenic ester. Pflanzenphysiol.62, 451–459 (1970b).
Lloyd, F. E.: The carnivorous plants. Chronica Botanica IX. New York 1942.
Lüttge, U.: Die Bedeutung des chemischen Reizes bei der Resorption von14C-Glutaminsäure,35SO4−− und45Ca++ durchDionoea muscipula. Naturwissenschaften50, 22 (1963).
—: Untersuchungen zur Physiologie der Carnivoren-Drüsen. I. Die an den Verdauungsvorgängen beteiligten Enzyme. Planta (Berl.)63, 103–117 (1964).
—: Untersuchungen zur Physiologie der Carnivoren-Drüsen. II. Über die Resorption verschiedener Substanzen. Planta (Berl.)66, 331–344 (1965a).
—: Untersuchungen zur Physiologie der Carnivoren-Drüsen. III. Der Stoffwechsel der resorbierten Substanzen. Flora155, 228–236 (1965b).
—: Untersuchungen zur Physiologie der Carnivoren-Drüsen. IV. Die Kinetik der Chloridsekretion durch das Drüsen-Gewebe vonNepenthes. Planta (Berl.)68, 44–56 (1966a).
—: Untersuchungen zur Physiologie der Carnivoren-Drüsen. V. Mikroautoradiographische Untersuchung der Chloridsekretion durch das Drüsengewebe vonNepenthes. Planta (Berl.)68, 269–285 (1966b).
Mathews, R. E. F.: A ribonuclease fromNepenthes spp. Biochim. biophys. Acta (Amst.)38, 552–553 (1960).
Mirimanoff, A.: Aggrégation protoplasmique et contractoin vacuolaire chezPinguicula vulgaris L. Bull. Soc. Bot. Genève29, 1–15 (1938).
Morren, E.: Observations sur les procédés insecticides desPinguicula Bull. Acad. roy. Sci. Belg., 2e, Sér.39, 870–881 (1875).
Olivet, R., Mirimanoff, A.:Pinguicula vulgaris L., est-elle une plante carnivore? Bull. Soc. Bot. Genève30, 230–235 (1940).
Oosterhuis, J.: Over de invloed van insectenvoeding opDrosera. Diss. Groningen, 1927.
Oudman, U.: Über Aufnahme und Transport N-haltiger Verbindungen durch die Blätter vonDrosera capensis. Proc. kon. ned. Akad. Wet.38, 3–15 (1935).
Pearse, A. G. E.: Histochemistry, theoretical and applied, 2nd edn. London: Brown, Boston and Churchill 1960.
Pringsheim, E., Pringsheim, O.: Axenic culture ofUtricularia. Amer. J. Bot.49, 898–901 (1962).
——: Small contributions to the physiology ofUtricularia. Z. Pflanzenphysiol.57, 1 (1967).
Rotman, B., Papermaster, B. W.: Membrane properties of living mammalian cells as studied by enzymatic hydrolysis of fluorogenic esters. Proc. nat. Acad. Sci. (Wash.)55, 134–141 (1966).
Schmucker, T., Linnemann, G.: Carnivorie. In: Encyclopedia of plant physiology (W. Ruhland, ed.) vol. 11, p. 198–283. Berlin-Göttingen-Heidelberg:Springer 1959.
Schnepf, E.: Licht-und elektronenmikroskopische Beobachtungen an Insektivoren-Drüsen über die Secretion des Frangschleimes. Flora151, 73–87 (1961).
—: Zur Cytologie und Physiologie pflanzlicher Drüsen. I. Über den Fangschleim der Insektivoren. Flora153, 1–22 (1963).
Schwab, D. W., Simmons, E., Scala, J.: Fine structure changes during function of the digestive gland of Venus's flytrap. Amer. J. Bot.56, 88–100 (1969).
Sorenson, D., Jackson, W. T.: The utilization of paramecia by the carnivorous plantUtricularia gibba. Planta (Berl.)83, 166–170 (1968).
Stocking, C. R.: Excretion by glandular organs. Encyclopedia of plant physiology, vol. 3, p. 503–510. W. Ruhland, ed. Berlin-Göttingen-Heidelberg: Springer 1956.
Tischutkin, N.: Die Rolle der Bacterien bei der Veränderung der Eiweißstoffe auf den Blättern vonPinguicula. Ber. dtsch. bot. Ges.7, 346–355 (1889).
Vogel, A.: Zur Feinstruktur der Drüsen vonPinguicula. Beiheft. Z. Schweiz. Forstver.30, 113–122 (1960).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Institute of Plant Development, University of Wisconsin, Madison
Yolande Heslop-Harrison & R. B. Knox
Elm Cottage, Stretford Bridge, Herefordshire, England
Yolande Heslop-Harrison
Botany Department, Australian National University, Canberra, A.C.T., Australia
R. B. Knox
- Yolande Heslop-Harrison
Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar
- R. B. Knox
Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Heslop-Harrison, Y., Knox, R.B. A cytochemical study of the leaf-gland enzymes of insectivorous plants of the genusPinguicula.Planta96, 183–211 (1971). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00387439
Received:
Issue date:
Share this article
Anyone you share the following link with will be able to read this content:
Sorry, a shareable link is not currently available for this article.
Provided by the Springer Nature SharedIt content-sharing initiative

