International Science Community Association Research Journal of Recent Sciences 2277 - 2502 1 5 2012 May 2 Distribution and pattern of availability of storage starch and cell death of ray parenchyma cells of a conifer tree (Larix kaempferi) 28 37 EN Bhattacharya Anjanabha 1 Plant and Crop Sciences Division, School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Loughborough LE12 5RD, UK 2BBIO, Jai Research Foundation, Vapi, Gujarat, INDIA Power JohnB. 2 DaveyMicheal R. 3 Kanife U.C. 1 Department of Biological Sciences, Yaba College of Technology P.M.B 2011, Yaba Lagos, NIGERIA Odesanmi O.S. 2 Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine University of Lagos, NIGERIA Adekunle A.A. 3 Department of Botany, University of Lagos, NIGERIA Doherty V.F. 4 Department of Biological Sciences, Yaba College of Technology P.M.B 2011, Yaba Lagos, NIGERIA Bobade S.N. 1 Indian Biodiesel Corporation, Baramati Tal- Baramati, Dist- Pune, INDIA Khyade V.B. 2 Shardabai Pawar Mahila College, Shardanagar Tal – Baramati, Dist. Pune, INDIA Okoli L.U. 1 Department of Physics, Federal College of Education, Technical, Umunze, NIGERIA Ozuomba J.O. 2 Department of Physics and Industrial Physics, Madonna University, Elele, NIGERIA Ekpunobi A.J. 3 Department of Physics and Industrial Physics, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, NIGERIA Ekwo P.I. 4 Islam M.A. 1 Graduate Training Institute, Bangladesh Agricultural University, BANGLADESH Begum S. 2 Department of Crop Botany, Faculty of Agriculture, Bangladesh Agricultural University, BANGLADESH Nakaba S. 3 Faculty of Agriculture, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, JAPAN Funada R. 4 > Research Paper 2012 2 29 2012 May 2 Starch in the ray parenchyma cells of Larix kaempferi tree varies considerably on the position of trunk. The maximum starch granules observed in sapwood, mostly outer to middle part. Most starch grains were localized in middle lines of parenchyma cells rather than upper and lower lines. Parenchyma cells of the phloem part also content starch rather than outer bark due to content dead cell almost. The distribution of nuclei in secondary xylem cells of L. kaempferi resembled cell death. Starch disappearing occurred prior to cell death in secondary xylem cells. Some characteristics heartwood inducing substances synthesized just after starch depletion, which might be deposited in cell wall. Ray parenchyma cells remained alive for several years. The timing of cell death of middle ray cells different from upper and lower radial ray cells within a ray. Our results also indicate that the position of starch depletion within a ray might affect the timing of cell death. The distribution pattern of storage starch and cell death was inter-linked with each other. This relationship controls the formation of heartwood in conifer trees. This report would be helpful for further research to clarify the heartwood formation in conifers, which has importance in tree breeding program and improvement of quality wood. Copyright@ International Science Community Association