Distribution of Autofluorescence and Esterase and Peroxidase Activities in the Epidermis of Wheat Roots

In the wheat root, peroxidases and esterases specific for a-naphthyl esters of acetate, propionate and butyrate are concentrated in cell walls, particularly the outer wall of epidermal cells undergoing extension. In contrast esterases specific for β-naphthyl esters of propionate and butyrate were intra- cellular and concentrated in epidermal and outer root-cap cells of the wheat root. Both α-naphthyl and β-naphthyl esters of longer-chain fatty acids proved to be poor substrates. The esterases and peroxidases associated with the outer epidermal wall may well be involved in turnover of phenolic acids cross-linked to polysaccharides. In this regard, ferulic acid and diferulate were shown to be constituents of wheat-root cell walls. The distribution of these substances can also be inferred from autofluorescence. Treatment with a commercial pig-liver esterase was without effect on the auto- fluorescence of the root cell-walls. Culture filtrates from Gaeumannomyces graminis did remove significant amounts of autofluorescent wall material. These preparations contained α-naphthyl acetate esterase as well as many polysaccharide hydrolase activities.