Effects of Monensin and Tunicmiycin on Fiber Development In Vitro

Gayle H. Davidonis


 
ABSTRACT

Perturbation of normal fiber growth and development should yield clues to understanding the major regulatory events during cotton fiber growth. Monensin disrupts Golgi function and inhibits the incorporation of glucose into cell walls. Tunicamycin is an inhibitor of protein glycosylation. Excised ovules were grown in vitro and treated with monensin or tunicamycin for 24 hours during either the cell elongation period or the period of simultaneous cell elongation and secondary wall deposition. Ovules were treated with a low concentration of monensin on 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 or 11 days postanthesis and examined at 21 days postanthesis. Fiber elongation was only slightly inhibited, however, the percentage of fibers having secondary walls was dramatically reduced from 60% in the untreated fibers to 30% in treated fibers. High concentrations of monensin and tunicamycin severely inhibited fiber elongation to a greater degree than secondary wall deposition. The early application of monensin and tunicamycin revealed that metabolic processes related to secondary wall deposition were more sensitive to inhibition than those involved in fiber elongation.



Reprinted from 1991 Proceedings Beltwide Cotton Conferences pg. 1026
©National Cotton Council, Memphis TN

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Document last modified Sunday, Dec 6 1998