title: Borate cross-linked/total rhamnogalacturonan II ratio in cell walls for the biochemical diagnosis of boron deficiency in hydroponically grown pumpkin.
abstract: Boron (B) is an essential micronutrient for vascular plants. The function of B has been demonstrated to cross-link monomeric rhamnogalacturonan II (mRG-II) to form dimeric RG-II-borate (dRG-II-B), and thus to stabilize plant cell walls. The dRG-II-B to total RG-II ratio in the cell walls of pumpkin hydroponically grown under various low-B conditions was analyzed to evaluate its applicability to the diagnosis of plant B deficiency. The dRG-II-B ratio in cell walls ranged between approximately 0.9 in B-sufficient tissues and approximately 0.15 in severe B-deficient tissues, reflecting the B nutritional status of tissues. This result indicates that the degree of B shortage in plant tissues is very likely to be diagnosed by the dRG-II-B ratio in cell walls.
authors.affiliation: National Agricultural Research Center, National Agriculture and Food Research Organization, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan. tmatunag@affrc.go.jp
authors.forename: Toshiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Matsunaga
authors.forename: Tadashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ishii
mesh_terms: D001881:Borates / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry*; D001895:Boron / Q000737:chemistry / Q000172:deficiency*; D002473:Cell Wall / Q000378:metabolism*; D002623:Chemistry Techniques, Analytical / Q000379:methods*; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents / Q000494:pharmacology; D028464:Cucurbita / Q000378:metabolism*; D010368:Pectins / Q000737:chemistry*; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D001881:Borates; D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents; D010940:Plant Proteins; C042492:rhamnogalacturonan II; D014867:Water; D010368:Pectins; D001895:Boron