α-TIP aquaporin distribution and size tonoplast variation in storage cells of Vicia faba cotyledons at seed maturation and germination stages.

Vacuoles have been shown to undergo deep modifications in relation to plant developmental stages and in the maintaining the cellular homeostasis. In this context, we studied the variations of the vacuolar membrane size and α-TIP aquaporin distribution at early and advanced seed stages of maturation, germination and embryo growth in Vicia faba cotyledon storage cells.