粉叶小檗大孢子发生和雌配子体形成

采用石蜡切片方法对粉叶小檗（Berberis pruinosa Franch.)的大孢子发生和雌配子体形成过程进行了研究。主要结果如下：雌蕊1枚,子房单心皮,边缘胎座,2枚胚珠倒生,具双珠被,厚珠心,珠孔由内外两层珠被共同形成,呈“Z”字形;单孢原,位于珠心表皮下;直线形大孢子四分体,合点端的1个大孢子发育为功能大孢子,胚囊发育类型为蓼型;成熟胚囊中,2个极核在受精前融合为次生核;3个反足细胞不发达,较早退化;"品"字形卵器,其中助细胞发达且具丝状器。     

Identification of the phosphoglycerate dehydrogenase isoform EDA9 as the essential gene for embryo and male gametophyte development in Arabidopsis

Three different pathways of serine (Ser) biosynthesis have been described in plants: the Glycolate pathway, which is part of the Photorespiratory pathway, and 2 non-Photorespiratory pathways, the Glycerate and the Phosphorylated pathways. The Phosphorylated Pathway of Ser Biosynthesis (PPSB) has been known to exist since the 1950s, but its biological relevance was not revealed until quite recently when the last enzyme of the pathway, the Phosphoserine Phosphatase, was functionally characterized. In the associated study¹, we characterized a family of genes coding for putatite phosphoglycerate dehydrogenases (PGDH, 3-PGDH, and EDA9), the first enzyme of the PPSB. A metabolomics study using overexpressing plants indicated that all PGDH family genes were able to regulate Ser homeostasis but only lacking of EDA9 expression caused drastic developmental defects. We provided genetic and molecular evidence for the essential role of EDA9 for embryo and pollen development. Here, some new insights into the physiological/molecular function of PPSB and Ser are presented and discussed.     

New insights into the functional roles of reactive oxygen species during embryo sac development and fertilization in Arabidopsis thaliana

Previously considered as toxic by-products of aerobic metabolism, reactive oxygen species (ROS) are emerging as essential signaling molecules in eukaryotes. Recent evidence showed that maintenance of ROS homeostasis during female gametophyte development is crucial for embryo sac patterning and fertilization. Although ROS are exclusively detected in the central cell of mature embryo sacs, the study of mutants deficient in ROS homeostasis suggests that controlled oxidative bursts might take place earlier during gametophyte development. Also, a ROS burst that depends on pollination takes place inside the embryo sac. This oxidative response might be required for pollen tube growth arrest and for sperm cell release. In this mini-review, we will focus on new insights into the role of ROS during female gametophyte development and fertilization. Special focus will be made on the mitochondrial Mn-Superoxide dismutase (MSD1), which has been recently reported to be essential for maintaining ROS homeostasis during embryo sac formation.     

龙津蕨的配子体发育特征及其系统学意义

采用改良Knop's营养液液体培养基于25℃恒温培养箱中培养龙津蕨(Mesopteris tonkinensis)的孢子,每天光照12 h,黑暗12 h,光照强度为2 500 lx。用光学显微镜观察记录其孢子萌发、配子体发育的全过程,为龙津蕨系统学的研究提供配子体发育方面的详实资料。结果表明:成熟孢子深褐色,不透明,两侧对称,极面观椭圆形,赤道面观圆角三角形,具单裂缝,孢子周壁具密集的脊状褶皱。播种后15 d左右萌发,形成2~5个细胞长的丝状体。孢子萌发类型为书带蕨型(vittaria-type)。具单细胞假根,不含叶绿体,基部膨大。20 d左右发育成片状体,30 d左右形成幼原叶体,幼原叶体不对称,成熟原叶体心脏形对称,56 d左右形成成熟原叶体,原叶体发育类型为铁线蕨型(adiantum-type)。幼原叶体仅左右两翼顶端细胞产生乳突毛状体,成熟原叶体边缘及背腹面都具少量乳突毛状体,毛状体由单细胞构成。68 d左右精子器开始出现,精子器近圆球形,由基细胞、环细胞、盖细胞构成。75 d左右颈卵器出现,成熟颈卵器颈部由3层细胞构成。其侧面观柱状,顶面观为铜面状。颈卵器垂直于原叶体表或向原叶体基部倾斜。另外,根据已知的金星蕨科其他属的配子体发育特征,发现龙津蕨配子体发育的这些特征与他们存在较大的区别,因此龙津蕨系统学位置还有待于进一步研究。     

中国特产2种濒危水韭雄性发育的比较研究

采用透射电镜和光镜比较观察了中华水韭和云贵水韭雄配子体及其精子的发育特征。结果显示:(1)2种水韭的雄配子体的寿命只有15~30d,终生都在小孢子壁内发育。(2)雄配子体只含有1个原叶体细胞、1个精子器壁细胞和4个精细胞,前2个细胞内含有丰富的营养物质。(3)精子由精核、微管带、鞭毛、细胞质等4部分构成。(4)中华水韭雄配子体发生率为4.5%,平均每个雄配子体产生0.46个精子,精子游动速度约53μm/s,寿命8min;云贵水韭雄配子体发生率和产精量略高于中华水韭,但精子游动速度和寿命略低于中华水韭。研究认为,中国水韭濒危的主要原因之一是雄配子体产精率低、受到生殖生态限制、水污染对精子的危害等;雄性特征表明水韭在石松类中占有较高的进化地位;结合前人的研究成果绘出了水韭雄配子体的发育模式。     

不同植物生长调节物质对细叶小羽藓愈伤组织诱导及分化的影晌

以细叶小羽藓[Haplocladium microphyllum（Hedw．）Broth．】的配子体为外植体,研究了不同植物生长调节物质对细叶小羽藓愈伤组织诱导及分化的影响。结果表明：在Ms培养基中添加不同的植物生长调节物质对细叶小羽藓配子体增殖影响差异很大,具体表现为2,4一D、KT、IBA和IAA促进细叶小羽藓芽体的诱导及生长,NAA抑制细叶小羽藓芽体的诱导,TDZ阿姨、、及6－BA促进细叶小羽藓的配子体产生愈伤组织;在Ms培养基中添加0．3mg·L－1。6-BA最适合愈伤组织的诱导;在MS掊养基中添加1．0mg·L－1。。IBA最适合愈伤组织的分化。     

Evolution and maintenance of haploid–diploid life cycles in natural populations: The case of the marine brown alga Ectocarpus

The evolutionary stability of haploid–diploid life cycles is still controversial. Mathematical models indicate that niche differences between ploidy phases may be a necessary condition for the evolution and maintenance of these life cycles. Nevertheless, experimental support for this prediction remains elusive. In the present work, we explored this hypothesis in natural populations of the brown alga Ectocarpus. Consistent with the life cycle described in culture, Ectocarpus crouaniorum in NW France and E. siliculosus in SW Italy exhibited an alternation between haploid gametophytes and diploid sporophytes. Our field data invalidated, however, the long‐standing view of an isomorphic alternation of generations. Gametophytes and sporophytes displayed marked differences in size and, conforming to theoretical predictions, occupied different spatiotemporal niches. Gametophytes were found almost exclusively on the alga Scytosiphon lomentaria during spring whereas sporophytes were present year‐round on abiotic substrata. Paradoxically, E. siliculosus in NW France exhibited similar habitat usage despite the absence of alternation of ploidy phases. Diploid sporophytes grew both epilithically and epiphytically, and this mainly asexual population gained the same ecological advantage postulated for haploid–diploid populations. Consequently, an ecological interpretation of the niche differences between haploid and diploid individuals does not seem to satisfactorily explain the evolution of the Ectocarpus life cycle.     

GENETIC POPULATION STRUCTURE AND MATING SYSTEM IN CHONDRUS CRISPUS (RHODOPHYTA)1

Chondrus crispus Stackh. has been intensely studied, yet no study to date has elucidated its population structure or mating system despite many populations in which there was a haploid bias and lack of male gametophytes. Therefore, 12 nuclear microsatellite loci were identified in this red alga. Microsatellite markers were developed and tested against a panel of specimens collected from two shore levels at two sites in Brittany, France: Pointe de Primel and Pointe de la Jument, Concarneau. Single locus genetic determinism was verified at eight polymorphic loci, as only one band was observed for haploid genotypes, whereas one or two bands were observed for diploids. These markers enabled the detection of unique genotypes within sampled populations, indicating that very few fronds shared the same multilocus genotype. This finding suggests that asexual reproduction was not the prevailing mode of reproduction. In addition, we explored the hierarchical population structure showing that gene flow is restricted at small spatial scales (<50 m) between upper and lower Chondrus‐range populations within a shore. Sexual reproduction predominated in the populations of C. crispus studied, but probably due to fine‐scale spatial substructuring, inbreeding was also significant. In conclusion, this study reveals that fine‐scale genetic variation is of major importance in C. crispus, suggesting that differences between microhabitats should be essential in understanding evolutionary processes in this species.     

蕨类植物的化感作用及其对生物多样性的影响

植物化感作用是植物通过向环境中释放化学物质从而对同种植株和繁殖体或与其他植物之间产生的直接或间接、有益或有害的作用,它影响植物分布、群落形成与演化、作物间作等,与生物多样性保护以及农林和园艺生产实践关系密切,在国际上受到越来越多的关注。但国内这方面的研究起步相对较晚,研究范围有限,对蕨类植物化感作用的报道更少。本文系统介绍了蕨类植物化感作用的研究进展,包括蕨类植物种内的化感作用(即自毒效应)、常见的蕨类植物种间的化感作用(即孢子体对配子体的化感作用和配子体对配子体的化感作用)及蕨类植物对种子植物的化感作用(蕨类植物可通过化感作用与种子植物争夺更多的资源和生长空间)。还介绍了种子植物对蕨类植物的化感作用(主要表现为抑制作用)以及蕨类植物化感作用与动物侵食、微生物侵染的关系,研究发现昆虫侵食能增强或减弱蕨类植物的化感作用,微生物的活动可能增强某些蕨类植物的化感作用。本文从上述不同角度说明蕨类植物化感作用对生物多样性的影响,希望有助于促进我国学者对该领域的深入研究。     

苔藓植物提取液对作物种子萌发的影响

用5种苔藓植物配子体的水提液分别培养5种作物种子．实验结果显示;羊角藓(Herpetipheuron toccoae)、山羽藓(Abietinella abietilla)、塔藓(Hylocomium splendens)、细叶金发藓(Polytrichum longisetum)对小麦(Triticum aestivum)、玉米(Zea mays)、大豆(Glycine max)、落花生(Arachis hypogaea)、菜豆(Phaseolus vulgaris)种子萌发均有不同程度的促进作用。温带光萼苔(Porella platiphylla)则对上述5种作物种子有不同程度的抑制作用。其原因可能是藓类与苔类配子体的主要次生代谢产物或内源激素不同,有待进一步探讨。