Carboxylestrase activity in the carrot seed and seedling.

This study shows that carboxylesterase activity is correlated to the differentiation of primary vascular tissue; it was also observed in epidermal cells, located between the outer and inner integuments and in the endosperm cells of carrot seed, and in seedlings. Our data support the idea that the detection of carboxylesterase activity associated with the detection of other enzymes related to secondary wall formation can be used as a molecular marker for the study of vascular differentiation, but cannot be used as an exclusive highly specific marker.