Development and ultrastructure of the megagametophyte in Passiflora caerulea L. (Passifloraceae)

Megasporogenesis and megagametogenesis of Passiflora caerulea L. were studied using light and transmission electron microscopy. The archesporial tissue is generally formed by one cell. The megaspore mother cell gives rise to a linear tetrad of megaspores. The chalazal megaspore is the functional one, and originates a Polygonum -type female gametophyte. The antipodals are ephemeral. Abundant starch is found in the nucellar cells, specially the ones adjacent to the megagametophyte. The two synergids show ultrastructural differences, involving the filiform apparatus, the nucleolus and the endoplasmic reticulum; these differences suggest a functional differentiation, probably related to the reception of the pollen tube. This is the first report in angiosperms of substantial morphological differences between the two synergids.  © 2003 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2003, 142 , 73–81.     

大葱卵器及受精后助细胞的超微结构

章丘大葱（Ａllium fistulosum L.cv.Zhangqiu)的卵器由１个卵细胞及２个助细胞组成,观察到不少卵器没有卵细胞,只有２个助细胞。卵细胞的核及大部分细胞质位于细胞的合点端,１个大液泡占据了细胞其他部位。卵细胞含有很多的核糖体及多聚核糖体、嵴明显的线粒体、粗面内质网、高尔基体具小泡,卵细胞似是一个活跃的细胞。细胞外被细胞壁,其合点端及侧方与助细胞共同壁不连续,助细胞有一较大的核,位于细胞膨大的部位,众多的小液泡遍布细胞中。核糖体及聚合核糖体、线粒体,粗面内质网及风心圆环状粗面内质丰富,高尔基体及小泡常见,反映了其活跃的代谢作用。助细胞合点端及侧方与卵细胞、中央细胞的共同壁不连续,与卵细胞共同壁含胞间连丝,壁不连续处,有不状多层膜结构伸入卵细胞质,显示助细胞可能对卵细胞提供营养,伟粉后,一个助细胞退化,宿存助细胞至随胚胚期尚存在,它经历了一个缓慢的退化过程,出现质壁分离,细胞质变稀,液泡扩大,细胞器逐渐减少,在椭形胚期,宿存助细胞核内的染色质及核仁消失,有细胞质侵入核内,因宿存助细胞壁变厚,细胞质出现现脂滴,宿存助细胞可能仍有合成功能,宿存助细胞壁出现若干无壁部位,细胞内的营养物质可能通过无壁部位向胚乳转运,供游离核胚乳及胚乳细胞化初期的发育。     

Sporophytic apomixis in polyploid Anemopaegma species (Bignoniaceae) from central Brazil

Apomixis and polyploidy have been important in the evolution of the angiosperms, and sporophytic apomixis has been associated with polyembryony and polyploidy in tropical floras. We studied the occurrence of polyembryony in populations of tetraploid Anemopaegma acutifolium, A. arvense and A. glaucum from the Brazilian cerrados, and histological features of sexual and apomictic processes were investigated in A. acutifolium. All populations and species were polyembryonic (68.9–98.4% of seeds). Normal double fertilization occurred in most ovules, with exceptions being that 3% of ovules were penetrated but not fertilized and in 4% of ovules both synergids were penetrated. The penetration of both synergids suggests a continuous attraction of pollen tubes and polyspermy. Adventitious embryo precursor cells (AEPs) arose from nucellar and integumental cells of the ovule in pollinated and unpollinated A. acutifolium, indicating sporophytic apomixis. However, further embryo and endosperm development required pollination and fertilization. This pseudogamy also allows concurrent sexual embryo development. Similar polyembryony rates and polyploidy indicated that A. arvense and A. glaucum are also apomictic, forming an agamic complex similar to that observed for some species of confamilial, but not closely related Handroanthus. The co‐occurrence of apomixis and polyploidy in different groups of Bignoniaceae indicates homoplasious origin of these agamic complexes. © 2013 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2013, 173 , 77–91.