Seasonal changes in the degree of symplasmic continuity between the cells of cambial region of Acer pseudoplatanus and Ulmus minor

The presence of symplasmic isolation and symplasmic continuity which are functional aspects of cell-to-cell communication, had been studied in cambium of Acer pseudoplatanus and Ulmus minor, with hope that uniqueness of this meristem, exemplified by its morphology and seasonal variations in its activity is also manifested in differences in the efficiency of communication between cambial cells during the year. The degree of symplasmic continuity was estimated by loading the fluorescent symplasmic tracer to the stem and following its distribution in a population of cambial cells observed on tangential, transverse and radial sections. In active cambium the tracer did not enter the rays. This suggested that the ray and fusiform cells, growing and dividing intensively at different rates were specifically isolated from each other. In the state of dormancy the tracer was present also in the rays implying continuity between the two types of cambial cells. Temporal restriction in tracer spreading from secondary xylem to cambial region was observed on transverse sections in both physiological states of the meristem. Higher degree of symplasmic isolation in active cambium is, most probably, associated with functional distinctiveness of ray and fusiform cells. We hypothesize further that the symplasmic continuity in dormant cambium results from the open conformation states of plasmodesmata, because the energy costs of these states are low. It is reasonable strategy when cambial cells do not divide and maintenance of their functional individuality is not necessary.