The paraveinal mesophyll: a specialized path for intermediary transfer of assimilates in legume leaves

Abstract

The distance between sites of synthesis of assimilates and the site of phloem loading can be large, and specialized leaf cell layers such as the paraveinal mesophyll (PVM) might act to enhance the efficiency of transport. A number of techniques were used to analyse PVM of legume leaves with respect to a hypothesized function in transfer of assimilates between tissues. Of 39 legume species examined, PVM was found in 22. Leaves of all PVM-containing species had multiple palisade parenchyma layers, while non-PVM species generally had only one distinct palisade layer. Morphometric analysis identified a significant correlation between PVM presence and greater numbers of palisade cells per unit leaf surface area. Comparison of photosynthetic rates of four PVM and four non-PVM species showed the PVM species had higher rates on a leaf area basis than all but one of the non-PVM species. Microautoradiography of ¹⁴CO₂ pulse–chase studies in soybean demonstrated PVM is an intermediary tissue in transfer of assimilates to vascular bundles. In addition, PVM cells but not mesophyll cells, were enriched in a sucrose binding protein previously found to be associated with sucrose-transporting tissues. The structural, positional and transport data support the hypothesis that the PVM acts as a transport pathway between the vascular system and photoassimilatory cells of the leaf, and has probably evolved to overcome diffusion limitations imposed by multiple palisade layers.