Functional Analysis of Wheat <Emphasis Type="Italic">TaPaO1</Emphasis> Gene Conferring Pollen Sterility Under Low Temperature

Thermosensitive male sterility plays an important role in wheat fertility and production. As a key enzyme for chlorophyll degradation, pheophorbide a oxygenase (PaO) can suppress cell death in plants. We cloned the wheat gene TaPaO1 from the thermosensitive genetic male sterile (TGMS) line BS366; it encodes a typical PaO protein, containing a conserved Rieske [2Fe-2S] iron–sulphur motif, a mononuclear non-heme iron-binding motif, and a C-terminal CxxC motif. TaPaO1 was expressed in all tissues and was upregulated during the meiosis stage of BS366 anthers under low temperature. Subcellular localization of TaPaO1 specifically labelled the surrounding of chloroplasts. TaPaO1 regulated by RD29A promoter which responded to low temperature led to pollen sterility in transgenic tobacco. Expression analysis showed that TaPaO1 exhibited a higher level of expression in the anther than in other tissues in transgenic tobacco plants during low temperature treatment. We propose that the higher senescence-related activity of TaPaO1 may lead to the cell death of anthers, which happens at an early developmental stage under low temperature. These results provide new insights into the function of PaO during the early developmental stage of anthers. PaO is closely related to cell death regardless of whether it exhibits increased activity or inactive.     

Differences on the microsporogenesis and tapetal development of male fertile and cytoplasmic male sterile pepper (Capsicum annuum L.)

To clarify the time and cause of pollen abortion, differences on the microsporogenesis and tapetum development in the anthers of male fertile maintainer line and cytoplasmic male sterile (CMS) line pepper were studied using transmission electron microscopy. The results showed that CMS line anthers appeared to have much greater variability in developmental pattern than male fertile maintainer line ones. The earliest deviation from normal anther development occurred in CMS line anthers at prophase I was cytomixis in some microspore mother cells (MMCs), and vacuolisation in tapetal cells. Then, MMCs in CMS line anthers developed asynchronously and a small part of ones at the different stage degenerated in advance appearing to have typical morphological features of programmed cell death (PCD). Most MMCs could complete the meiosis, but formed non-tetrahedral tetrad microspores with irregular shape and different size and uncertain number of nuclei, and some degenerated ahead of time as well. Tapetal cells in CMS line anther degenerated during meiosis, and were crushed at the tetrad stage, which paralleled the collapse of pollens. Pollen abortion in CMS line anthers happened by PCD themselves, and the premature PCD of tapetal cells were closely associated with male sterility.     

A defect in synapsis causes male sterility in a T-DNA-tagged Arabidopsis thaliana mutant

Fluorescence microscopy was used to study meiosis in microsporocytes from wild-type Arabidopsis thaliana and a T-DNA-tagged meiotic mutant. Techniques for visualizing chromosomes and β-tubulin in other plant species were evaluated and modified in order to develop a method for analyzing meiosis in A. thaliana anthers. Like most dicots, A. thaliana microsporocytes undergo simultaneous cytokinesis in which both meiotic divisions are completed prior to cytokinesis. However, two unique events were observed in wild-type A. thaliana that have not been reported in other angiosperms: (1) polarization of the microsporocyte cytoskeleton during prophase I prior to nuclear envelope breakdown, and (2) extensive depolymerization of microtubules just prior to metaphase II. The first observation could have implications regarding a previously uncharacterized mechanism for determining the axis of the metaphase I spindle during microsporogenesis. The second observation is peculiar since microtubules are known to be involved in chromosome alignment in other species; possible explanations will be discussed. A T-DNA-tagged meiotic mutant of A. thaliana ( syn1 ), which had previously been shown to produce abnormal microspores with variable DNA content, was also cytologically characterized. The first observable defect occurs in microsporocytes at telophase I, where some chromosomes are scattered throughout the cytoplasm, usually attached to stray microtubules. Subsequent developmental stages are affected, leading to complete male sterility. Based on similarities to synaptic mutants that have been described in other species, it is suggested that this mutant is defective in synaptonemal complex formation and/or cohesion between sister chromatids.     

Early signs of disruption of wheat anther development associated with the induction of male sterility by meiotic-stage water deficit

 Water deficit during meiosis in microspore mother cells of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) induces male sterility, which reduces grain yield. In plants stressed during meiosis and then re-watered, division of microspore mother cells seems to proceed normally, but subsequent pollen development is arrested. Stress-affected anthers generally lack starch. We employed light microscopy in conjunction with histochemistry to compare the developmental anatomy of water-stress-affected and normal anthers. The earliest effects of stress, detectable between meiosis and young microspore stages, were the degeneration of meiocytes, loss of orientation of the reproductive cells, and abnormal vacuolization of tapetal cells. Other effects observed during subsequent developmental stages were deposition of starch in the connective tissue where it is normally not present, hypertrophy of the middle layer or endothecial cells, and deposition of sporopollenin-like substances in the anther loculus. The resulting pollen grains lacked both starch and intine. These results suggest that abnormal degeneration of the tapetum in water-stressed anthers coupled with a loss of orientation of the reproductive cells could be part of early events leading to abortion of microspores. Received: 19 July 1996 / Revision accepted: 6 November 1996     

小麦光温敏雄性不育系BS366铜锌超氧化物歧化酶基因的克隆及表达分析

超氧化物歧化酶(SOD,superoxide dismutase)是植物中一种主要的抗氧化酶,在植物应对逆境胁迫及抗衰老中起重要作用。本研究从基因芯片数据中筛选获得小麦Cu/Zn-SOD基因的EST序列,通过序列比对后拼接得到小麦Cu/Zn-SOD的候选基因,利用PCR技术在小麦光温敏雄性不育材料BS366中克隆并获得该基因。通过对Cu/Zn-SOD基因序列进行生物信息学分析,结果表明,该基因拥有连续且完整的开放阅读框,长495bp,编码164个氨基酸。氨基酸序列分析发现,该蛋白具有保守的Cu/Zn-SOD功能结构域与典型的Cu/Zn-SOD三维结构,且定位于细胞质中。通过同源进化分析表明,该蛋白与二穗短柄草(Brachypodium distachyon(L.)Beauv.)和大麦(Hordeum vulgare L.)的Cu/Zn-SOD蛋白亲缘关系较近,相似度分别为89%和94%。利用实时荧光定量PCR技术对其在小麦不同组织的表达特异性及不同逆境胁迫下的表达模式进行分析,结果表明,该基因在根、茎、叶、雌蕊、雄蕊、颖壳中均有表达,属于组成型表达,且在小麦的地上部含叶绿体的组织中含量较高;同时受多种胁迫诱导,可能参与了多种胁迫诱导调控途径。通过对该基因在不同育性环境中BS366育性转换期花药中的表达模式分析,发现可育环境下,在小孢子母细胞时期和减数分裂期的表达量分别约为对照的8倍与16倍;而不育环境下,该基因表达水平无明显变化。因而推测,小麦Cu/Zn-SOD基因可能参与了光温敏雄性不育系BS366的育性调控。本研究为深入研究Cu/Zn-SOD基因在小麦中的作用机理奠定了重要基础。     

双低两用温敏核不育水稻低温条件下花粉发育的细胞学观察

双低两用温敏核不育水稻96－5－2S在11.31－20.19℃低温条件下,花粉母细胞形成、减数分裂和花粉后期发育均正常,最后形成充满淀粉的成熟花粉,而作对照的两用温敏不育水稻陆18S在相同低温条件下,除花粉母细胞形成早期发育正常外,花粉母细胞晚期、减数分裂期均有异常,败育主要发生在单核小孢子靠边期,没有形成成熟花粉,结果表明,96－5－2S桫胜殖期抗寒性强,低温生理障碍雄性不育临界温度低。     

光温敏核雄性不育小麦BS366花粉母细胞减数分裂的细胞学研究

要以小麦光温敏核雄性不育系BS366为材料,采用卡宝品红压片法研究花粉母细胞减数分裂的细胞学变化。结果表明:不育环境下的BS366花粉母细胞减数分裂过程中染色体和细胞形态异常现象较多。染色体异常主要表现为:染色体落后,染色体桥、染色体散乱排列,微核、染色体分离不同步。细胞形态异常表现为:二分体时期细胞质不完全分裂,细胞板不平整;四分体时期子细胞大小不一。花粉母细胞减数分裂后,异常四分体的比例为62.88%;成熟花粉粒中败育率为89.5%。推测减数分裂期间异常的染色体行为以及细胞形态可能是影响花粉育性降低的重要原因。     

Drought-induced male sterility in rice: Changes in carbohydrate levels and enzyme activities associated with the inhibition of starch accumulation in pollen

Male reproductive development of rice (Oryza sativa L.) is very sensitive to drought. A brief, transitory episode of water stress during meiosis in pollen mother cells of rice grown under controlled environmental conditions induced pollen sterility. Anthers containing sterile pollen were smaller, thinner, and often deformed compared to normal anthers of well-watered plants. Only about 20% of the fully developed florets in stressed plants produced grains, compared to 90% in well-watered controls. Water stress treatments after meiosis were progressively less damaging. Levels of starch and sugars and activities of key enzymes involved in sucrose cleavage and starch synthesis were analyzed in anthers collected at various developmental stages from plants briefly stressed during meiosis and then re-watered. Normal starch accumulation during pollen development was strongly inhibited in stress-affected anthers. During the period of stress, both reducing and non-reducing sugars accumulated in anthers. After the relief of stress, reducing sugar levels fell somewhat below those in controls, but levels of non-reducing sugars remained higher than in controls. Activities of acid invertase and soluble starch synthase in stressed anthers were lower than in controls at comparable stages throughout development, during as well as after stress. Stress had no immediate effect on ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase activity, but had an inhibitory aftereffect throughout post-stress development. Sucrose synthase activity, which was, relatively speaking, much lower than acid invertase activity, was only slightly suppressed by stress. The results show that it is unlikely that pollen sterility, or the attendant inhibition of starch accumulation, in water-stressed rice plants are caused by carbohydrate starvation per se. Instead, an impairment of enzymes of sugar metabolism and starch synthesis may be among the potential causes of this failure.     

Towards male sterility in Pinus radiata--a stilbene synthase approach to genetically engineer nuclear male sterility

A male cone-specific promoter from Pinus radiata D. Don (radiata pine) was used to express a stilbene synthase gene (STS) in anthers of transgenic Nicotiana tabacum plants, resulting in complete male sterility in 70% of transformed plants. Three plants were 98%-99.9% male sterile, as evidenced by pollen germination. To identify the stage at which transgenic pollen first developed abnormally, tobacco anthers from six different developmental stages were assayed microscopically. Following the release of pollen grains from tetrads, transgenic pollen displayed an increasingly flake-like structure, which gradually rounded up during the maturation process. We further investigated whether STS expression may have resulted in an impaired flavonol or sporopollenin formation. A specific flavonol aglycone stain was used to demonstrate that significant amounts of these substances were produced only in late stages of normal pollen development, therefore excluding a diminished flavonol aglycone production as a reason for pollen ablation. A detailed analysis of the exine layer by transmission electron microscopy revealed minor structural changes in the exine layer of ablated pollen, and pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy indicated that the biochemistry of sporopollenin production was unaffected. The promoter-STS construct may be useful for the ablation of pollen formation in coniferous gymnosperms and male sterility may potentially be viewed as a prerequisite for the commercial use of transgenic conifers.     

Cytological investigation of male sterility in sorghum caused by a dominant mutation (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Ms</Emphasis><Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">tc</Emphasis></Subscript>) derived from tissue culture

Male sterility mutations are an important tool in the investigation of anther and pollen development and for obtaining hybrid seeds in plant breeding. Cytological analysis of microsporo- and microgameto-genesis in sorghum plants with dominant mutation of male sterility (Ms_tc) derived from tissue culture has been carried out. Using substitution backcrosses, this mutation was introduced first into the nuclear background of the fertile sorghum line SK-723 and from this line into Volzhskoe-4w (V-4w). The mechanism of Ms_tc action on anther and pollen development differed in different nuclear backgrounds. In SK-723, phenotypic expression of Ms_tc began before the beginning of meiosis, which resulted in degeneration of sporogenous tissue in some anthers and in significant disturbances of anther morphology. In microsporocytes that did not degenerate, the frequency of non-specific meiotic abnormalities characteristic of the fertile line SK-723 significantly increased. In addition, in the mutant plants, a number of specific meiotic abnormalities--almost complete desynapsis, and formation of syncytial structures--were observed, apparently the consequence of Ms_tc action. In mono- or bi-nucleate microspores, degenerative processes resulting in formation of empty or anomalously coloured pollen grains led to almost complete male sterility. In the V-4w nuclear background, changes in anther structure and meiotic disturbances were infrequent. The degenerative processes began at the uni- or binucleate microspore stage and resulted in formation of empty or abnormally coloured pollen grains, and in partial pollen sterility. Thus, the same nuclear male sterility-inducing mutation in different nuclear backgrounds affects different stages of pollen development.     

Expression of a wheat ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase gene during development of normal and water-stress-affected anthers

In wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), water deficit during meiosis in the microspore mother cells (MMCs) induces pollen abortion, resulting in the failure of fertilization and a reduction in grain set. In stressed plants, meiosis in MMCs proceeds normally but subsequent pollen development is arrested. Unlike normal pollen grains, which accumulate starch during the late maturation phase, stress-affected anthers contain pollen grains with little or no starch. Stress also alters the normal distribution of starch in the anther wall and connective tissue. To determine how starch biosynthesis is regulated within the developing anthers of stressed plants, we studied the expression of ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase (AGP), which catalyzes the rate limiting step of starch biosynthesis. Two partial-length cDNAs corresponding to the large subunit of AGP were amplified by RT-PCR from anther RNA, and used as probes to monitor AGP expression in developing anthers of normal and water-stressed plants. These clones, WAL1 and WAL2, had identical deduced amino acid sequences and shared 96% sequence identity at the nucleic acid level. In normal anthers, AGP expression was biphasic, indicating that AGP expression is required for starch biosynthesis both during meiosis and later during pollen maturation. AGP expression in stressed anthers was not affected during the first phase of starch accumulation, but was strongly inhibited during the second phase. We conclude from these results that the reduced starch deposition later in the development of stressed pollen could be the result of a lower expression of AGP. However, this inhibition of AGP expression is unlikely to be the primary cause of male sterility because anatomical symptoms of pollen abortion are observed prior to the time when AGP expression is inhibited.     

Temperature stress interferes with male reproductive system development in clementine (Citrus clementina Hort. ex. Tan.)

Male gametophyte development is a critical phase of the plant life cycle due to its high sensitivity to environmental stresses. The rise in the average global temperature, often accompanied by extreme fluctuations, has an important impact on biological processes. Among those, male gametophytes are particularly sensitive to temperature stress during flower bud development and anthesis. Male gametophyte development was extensively studied in several plant species, but little information is available about the effects of temperature stress on male gametophyte development in the genus Citrus. We evaluated the effects of cold and hot temperatures during microsporogenesis and microgametogenesis on one of the most economically valuable citrus species, the “Comune” clementine (Citrus clementina Hort. ex. Tan.). The effect of constant temperature on the androecium was evaluated by a time course histological analysis performed on the anthers and by monitoring in vitro pollen germination. The results revealed how suboptimal hot and cold temperatures induce drastic alterations on the morphology of the tapetal cells, microspores and mature pollen grains. Shifting from the optimal temperature affected the timing of starch depletion in the anther walls, such as epidermis, endothecium and middle layer, influencing the pollen germination rate and pollen tube growth. To the best of our knowledge this is the first study attempting to assess how temperature stress affects male reproductive development in citrus. A better understanding of the mechanisms underlining male sterility will provide novel insights to elucidate the physiology of this agronomical important quality trait.     

Meiotic abnormality in dominant genic male sterile Brassica napus

Rs1046AB is a dominant genic male sterile (DGMS) Brassica napus line derived from Yi-3A. Until now the molecular mechanism of its male sterility is still unknown. In this paper, cytological observations demonstrated that all cells in sterile plants contained condensed nuclei at the beginning stage of meiosis; this implied that meiotic cells were degenerating. Although 31% (93/300) cells escaped from the state of nuclei condensation in buds about 3 mm in length (in such length, normal plants are at tetrade stage), no cells could pass the pachytene stage. Then pachytene or zygotene like chromatin/chromosomes sometimes congregated into two or more groups with different size, which resulted in the formation of micronuclei. Nucleoplasmic bridge could also be found in some meiotic cells. Even when the "microspore's analogue" appeared in sterile buds about 4 mm in length (in such length, mature pollens could be detected in normal buds), the nuclei condensation and escaped cells with pachytene like chromosome still could be found in the sterile anthers. So it could be concluded that male sterility was caused by meiotic abnormality. According to our previous research, four genes related to cell cycle/DNA processing were identified in fertile plants. RT-PCR further confirmed that three DNA repair genes were partially or completely repressed in the sterile plants, and were only expressed in the early stage fertile flower buds, i.e. the buds <3 mm in length. Therefore, DGMS of rapeseed was probably caused by the abnormality in DNA damage repair system during meiosis. According to these results, some possible mechanisms of fertility control were discussed.     

Cytomixis and meiotic abnormalities during microsporogenesis are responsible for male sterility and chromosome variations in Houttuynia cordata

Houttuynia cordata (Saururaceae) is a leaf vegetable and a medicinal herb througout much of Asia. Cytomixis and meiotic abnormalities during microsporogenesis were found in two populations of H. cordata with different ploidy levels (2n = 38, 96). Cytomixis occurred in pollen mother cells during meiosis at high frequencies and with variable degrees of chromatin/chromosome transfer. Meiotic abnormalities, such as chromosome laggards, asymmetric segregation and polyads, also prevailed in pollen mother cells at metaphase of the first division and later stages. They were caused by cytomixis and resulted in very low pollen viability and male sterility. Pollen mother cells from the population with 2n = 38 showed only simultaneous cytokinesis, but most pollen mother cells from the population with 2n = 96 showed successive cytokinesis; a minority underwent simultaneous cytokinesis. Cytomixis and irregular meiotic divisions appear to be the origin of the intraspecific polyploidy in this species, which has large variations in chromosome numbers.     

外源茉莉酸甲酯通过调节相关基因表达诱导光温敏雄性不育小麦BS366离体花药开裂

植物育性与花药开裂性状相关. 茉莉酮酸甲酯(methyl jasmonic acid, MeJA)是一种植物激素,广泛参与植物的胁迫应答和生长发育过程. 植物体内存在6类基因所编码的酶共同维持茉莉酮酸(JA)代谢途径的畅通,并与植物花药开裂有关. 本研究以小麦光温敏不育系BS366为材料,于抽穗期—开花期进行穗部离体48 h的 MeJA外源处理. 分别于0、1、3、6、12、24和48 h时间点收集花药并进行RNA提取. 通过半定量RT-PCR分析发现,在内参基因甘油醛-3-磷酸脱氢酶(glyceraldehyde-3- phosphate dehydrogenase, GAPDH)表达基本一致的情况下,BS366的JA代谢途径中参与调控的6种基因均存在不同程度的诱导表达. 经MeJA 的48 h处理后的离体花药开裂程度明显增大. 本研究获得了BS366离体环境下JA代谢途径基因经MeJA诱导后表达水平的概况,并为诱导BS366花药开裂及人工调控育性,达到高效制种及繁种的目的提供了初步的理论依据.     

Effect of Growth Regulators and Chemicals on Pollen Sterility in TGMS Lines of Rice

Thermosensitive genic male sterility (TGMS) in rice is a widely adopted technique for successful hybrid rice production in Asia. TGMS lines remain male sterile when daily mean temperature is above the critical sterility temperature and are therefore used as female parents. The same line will remain fertile when mean temperature is below the critical sterility temperature. Achievement of 100% male sterility in TGMS lines is important for the successful utilization of TGMS lines as female parents in hybrid rice production. This study examined the external application of some growth regulators and chemicals and their effect on pollen sterility. Among the various treatments, ethrel (800 ppm), salicylic acid (600 ppm) and maleic hydrazide (0.2%) induced a significantly higher percentage of male sterility in the TGMS lines. The sprayed plants also showed higher total phenol accumulation in their flag leaves. The results suggest that it is possible to achieve 100% male sterility in TGMS lines with the external application of growth regulators and chemicals.