Coloured allelochemicals in modelling of cell-cell allelopathic interactions

Modelling of cell-cell interactions using microscopy is based on the observations of direct interactions of acceptor cells as biosensors (unicellular plant generative and vegetative microspores) with pigmented and fluorescing components of secretions released by the donor cells of allelopathic plant species. Pigmented secretions enriched in red anthocyanins (glucosides of pelargonidin from Hippeastrum hybridum petals), blue azulenes (synthetic azulene and azulene extracted from leaves of Artemisia absinthium) and yellow alkaloids (rutacridone from Ruta graveolens roots) serve as tool to study the mechanisms of cell-cell interactions. The compounds may stimulate or inhibit the germination of pollens, vegetative microspores and seeds. Test allelochemicals penetrate into the acceptor cells and get bound with DNAcontaining organelles (nuclei and chloroplasts) that change the colour or fluorescence of cellular structures. Coloured allelochemicals were used as histochemical dyes to determine the cellular mechanisms during the allelopathic interactions.