Studies On Programmed Cell Death Of Elm Seeds

Programmed cell death (PCD), a genetically controlled active physically cell death, occurs not only in animal cells, but also in plant cells. Elm seeds were used to investigate characters of PCD after aging for 6 days at 37℃ and 100% relative humidity (RH). The results of DAPI stained nuclei indicated clearly some apoptosis body. The results of DNA of elm seeds on an agarose gel was a characteristic "ladder". Changes of electrolyte leakage of elm seeds showed that membrane kept integrally almost during whole aging time. All above proved that elm seeds accelerated aging at 37℃ and 100% RH should belong to PCD.There were an immediate burst in hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and superoxide (O2-) anion production and the changes of ROS were earlier than that of photophospase activity, Ca2+ flowing and emergence of apoptosis body, which indicated that ROS was a key factor at the beginning of PCD. Regularly changes were determined on polymains, ethylene, ABA, HSPs and antioxidation enzyme activity, which showed that PCD was controlled by multiple mediators.