Some features of cell wall transport function in Arctic plants

Ion exchange of the leaves' cell walls in species Betula nana L., Salix polaris Walenb., Dryas octopetala L. and Cassiope tetragona (L.) D. Don. growing on the island of Western Spitsbergen were investigated. It was found out that the cell wall of arctic plants is a cation exchanger, which is comparable to the functional groups (amine groups, carboxyl groups and phenolic OH-groups) with the cell wall of plants from tundra zone. In all investigated species, the highest percentage in the structure of the cell wall was reported for the carboxyl groups of hydroxycinnamic acids and phenolic OH-groups, which are a part of the phenolic compound. In comparison with species from other climatic zones leaves' cell walls of arctic plants have 2-3 times higher amount of ion exchange groups of all types as well as a higher value of swelling coefficient. It was proposed that the high values of the ion-exchange capacity and swelling coefficient of the cell wall of all studied species contribute to greater water flow system by the apoplast and enhance metabolic processes in the cell wall of the plants growing in conditions of high latitudes.