Transmission and Scanning Electron Microscopic Observations on the Plasmodesmatal Channels Between the Pollen Mother Cells of Lily

The regularity of the presence of plasmodesmata channels in the pollen mother cells of lily was studied by transmission and scanning electron microscopy. A few plasmodesmata channels can be recognized between the pollen mother cells at leptotene stage, which increase in number at zygotene and expand in width at synizesis and they lie in the range 0.5—1 μm. Massive chromatin substance are transferred from one pollen mother cell to another during synizesis. The pre-existing plasmodesmate channels close again at late pachytene. There are no channels from metaphase Ⅰ to tetrad stage. Finally, the relation between the presence of plasmodesmata channels, synizesis and cytomixis were discussed.     

广东万年青的细胞遗传学研究

采用常规压片法和去壁低渗法,以生长于广西凭祥和广东深圳的广东万年青（Aglaonema modestumSchott ex Engl.）为材料,对二者的体细胞染色体、花粉母细胞减数分裂染色体配对行为和花粉发育过程进行了观察。结果表明：（1）野生植株为二倍体2n=40,栽培植株为三倍体2n=60;（2）野生种的小孢子母细胞减数分裂前期I终变期均为二价联会,栽培种偶见三价联会;（3）中期I,野生种为20个二价体排列在赤道板上,未见单价体,栽培种的20个二价体排列于赤道板上,20个单价体随机分布于两极,证实其为三倍体;（4）后期I,野生种二价体分离,出现单染色单体桥和断片,几率为10%,栽培种几率为3%,还存在落后染色体,部分不能进入两极的落后染色体和染色体断片在末期I形成微核;（5）四分体时期,野生种未观察到异常孢子,栽培种出现大量败育的四分体或多分体;（6）小孢子进入正常的发育分化,通过两次有丝分裂形成三细胞型花粉。野生种成熟花粉败育率为2.18%,栽培种为88.29%;（7）野生种正常结实,栽培种果实中未发现种子,为高度不育。     

四倍体中华猕猴桃减数分裂及花粉发育的细胞学观察

观察了四倍体中华猕猴桃(2n=4x=116)雄株花粉母细胞减数分裂和花粉发育过程。在减数分裂终变期和中期Ⅰ,绝大部分染色体呈二价体构型,出现少最环状和链状多价体。胞质发育为同时型。成熟花粉粒为两细胞型。     

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.     

The influence of B-chromosomes on chiasma frequencies in Black Mexican Sweet Corn

The mean chiasma frequency at first metaphase of meiosis in pollen mother cells of a maize variety, Black Mexican Sweet Corn, increases with increasing number ofB-chromosomes. The increased chiasma frequency is also reflected by a decrease in the number of rod bivalents at first metaphase. There is some indication that theB-chromosomes also influence the distribution of chiasmata between pollen mother cells. The increase in chiasma frequency due toBs is closely analogous to the increase in crossing-over carlier attributed toBs between marker genes located on chromosome III. Together the evidence confirm the role ofBs in controlling genetic recombination at meiosis.     

The Relationship Between the Intercellular Chromatin Migration of Pollen Mother Cells and the Changes of Chromosome Numbers During the Genesis of Male Gametes in Allium Cepa

During the genesis of microspores and male gametes, the percentages of cells with an increas- ed and decreased chromosome number at metaphase Ⅱ, mitotic metaphase of microspores and generative cells approximated to the one at previous stage (metaphase Ⅰ, metaphase Il, and microspores) respectively, and the one at metaphase 1 again approximated to the percentages of chromatin intercellular migration of type 2.3→1 and 1→2.3 respectively, which had no significant diversity statistically. According to this fact, it was considered that the changes of chromosome numbers were related to the chromatin intercellular migration at synizesis stage and that pollen mother cells with an abnormal chromosome number at metaphase Ⅰ basically were able to continue developing untill the formation of male gametes.     

融安金柑雌雄配子发育相关性及2n配子诱导研究

以融安金柑为试验材料,观察了2n花粉自然发生率、雌雄配子发育过程及减数分裂行为,以不同秋水仙素浓度及处理时间对花蕾进行2n配子诱变.结果显示:(1)融安金柑2n花粉自然发生率为0.31％;(2)花蕾纵径为0.228～0.270cm时,为花粉母细胞减数分裂Ⅰ前期;花蕾纵径为0.274～0.318 cm时,大孢子处于减数分...     

Cytological and Statistical Analysis of Secondary Association in the Genus Phaseolus

Four cultivars of Phaseolus coccineus L., five cultivars of P. vulgaris L. and one collectionof P. vulgaris var. aborigineus (Burk.) Baudet were examined cytologically for the presenceof secondary association of bivalents (bivalent pairing) during metaphase 1 of meiosis in pollen mother cells. Statistical methods were presented for evaluating the deviation of the observed degree of association to that expected at random. The degree of secondary pairing wasfound to be highly significant. Transmission electron microscope techniques were modified to enable the viewing of squashed but intact pollen mother cells which showed that a physicalconnection could occur between bivalents secondarily associated.     

玉兰减数分裂观察及染色体构型分析

采用去壁低渗方法,观察研究了玉兰Magnolia denudata有丝分裂和减数分裂的细胞学特征。实验结果证实玉兰存在两种染色体倍性,即2n=4x=76和2n=6x=114。通常,在木兰属甚至整个木兰科每个物种只具有一种染色体数目。玉兰有丝分裂间期核为复杂染色中心型,其中期染色体较小。玉兰在减数分裂中期I的构型表现出多样性,其中最主要的特点是比同源多倍体预期的二价体出现的频率更高些,其次是在减数分裂中期I可以观察到1或2个环状和（或）链状六价体。这些特征与同源异源六倍体或部分的异源六倍体种北美红杉Sequ     

白菜细胞核雄性不育两用系的细胞学观察

对白菜细胞核雄性不育两用系进行了花粉母细胞减数分裂和小孢子发育的细胞学观察,实验结果初步表明不育系小孢子败育时期在减数分裂末期Ⅱ这一阶段,败育方式是不能形成四分体,随后小孢子内颗粒状的内含物不断外溢,直至成为一个空壳,药室萎缩,导致花粉败育。     

鱼腥草花粉母细胞减数分裂特征及其育性研究

为深入了解鱼腥草花粉母细胞的减数分裂特征与花粉育性的关系,该研究采用卡宝品红染色法对2个鱼腥草居群花粉母细胞的减数分裂过程进行观察,并采用氯化三苯基四氮唑(TTC)染色法、I2-KI染色法、B-K培养基培养法及荧光显微镜观察法来检测鱼腥草花粉的活力及萌发率。结果发现:(1)鱼腥草减数分裂的进程与花序大小、花药颜色、花药长度均有密切的关系。(2)2个居群的鱼腥草中花粉母细胞减数分裂过程正常占88.2%,有11.8%的花粉母细胞减数分裂异常。(3)减数分裂异常表现在减数分裂过程中出现微核、落后染色体、染色体桥、不均等分离、多分体等现象,并发现在二分体阶段及单核花粉发育过程中存在细胞融合。(4)2个居群的鱼腥草花粉活力均不超过1.5%,花粉几乎不萌发。研究认为,鱼腥草花粉育性低的主要原因是单核花粉的发育过程异常,而非鱼腥草花粉母细胞减数分裂异常所致。     

Association between chemical and genetic variation in Calophyllum inophyllum, a medicinally important tree of the Western Ghats of India

Intersubspecific autotetraploid rice hybrids have high heterosis in both vegetative and reproductive growth, but low seed set hinders commercial utilization of autotetraploid rice. Autotetraploid rice hybrids with high and low pollen fertility were used in the present study to compare microtubule distribution patterns and chromosome behavior during pollen mother cell (PMC) meiosis, using indirect immunofluorescence laser scanning confocal microscopy. Microtubule distribution patterns of autotetraploid hybrids were similar to diploid rice, but many different kinds of abnormalities were found in the hybrid with low pollen fertility and seed set. Abnormal microtubule organization including structurally distorted microtubules at pachytene, loosely knitted perinuclear microtubules at diakinesis during prophase?I, and abnormal spindles, viz. multipoles, loss of spindle pole focus, abnormal size of spindles, and so on, were found at metaphase?I and metaphase?II. Some cells developed into triad with no formation of tetrad. Abnormal chromosome behaviors included high percentage of multivalents, chromosome lagging, chromosome bridges, and micronuclei. All these abnormalities were found more frequently in low-fertile hybrid than in high-fertile hybrid. These results suggest that abnormal microtubule distribution pattern is an important factor which affects pollen fertility and percentage seed set in autotetraploid rice, and may also have a close relationship with chromosome behavior.     

Position and orientation in the metaphase equator of an interchange quadrivalent of hybrid rye

The position and orientation of an interchange quadrivalent in flattened lateral views of metaphase I were studied in pollen mother cells of hybrid rye. Five quadrivalent types showed three positional distributions in the equator, these distributions having elements both similar to and very different from those found previously for an interchange quadrivalent of Allium triquetrum.     

鸭跖草科杜若(Pollia japonica Thunb.)的减数分裂研究

首次对鸭跖草科杜若(Pollia japonicaThunb.)进行了花粉母细胞减数分裂观察,并重新报道了该种的染色体数目为2n=32。结果显示,减数分裂中期I构型为16Ⅱ,并且观察到次级联会现象。减数分裂后期I和后期Ⅱ存在落后染色体、染色体断片、二次分裂不同步等异常现象,统计各时期畸形率都低于10%。随机统计花粉粒活性,成熟率达到90%以上。这说明杜若的减数分裂过程基本正常,也证明了2n=32的体细胞染色体数目是可信的。     

Spontaneous structural rearrangements in Solanum phureja Juz. et Buk. 2. Meiotic behaviour and identification of interchange chromosomes using primary trisomics.

Meiosis was studied in two diploid (2n = 2x = 24) siblings of Solanum phureja Juz. et Buk. and in 11 disomic and 2 trisomic descendants. The diploid siblings carry the same heterozygous interchange and either one or two inversions. The frequency of quadrivalents at diakinesis/metaphase I in these clones was 0.56 and 0.62 per pollen mother cell. In two plants from the first inbred generation (I1) this frequency was about the same but in some other I1 plants and a full sib the frequency was substantially lower, varying from 0.00 to 0.16. Most quadrivalents, 78-83%, were rings. A variety of quadrivalent configurations at diakinesis and metaphase I was observed, giving rise to balanced and unbalanced gametes. The absence of ring quadrivalents in trisomic descendants of one of the siblings implied that tertiary trisomics or primaries being homozygous for the interchange were present in the I1 generation. Regular chromosome distribution (12-12) at anaphase I occurred in 46.5 and 73.2% of the pollen mother cells studied in the two original clones. Irregularities, such as 11-13 distribution, lagging chromosomes, and a bridge and fragment, were detected on average in 2.7, 3.3, and 32.5%, respectively, of the anaphase I cells analysed. In hybrids from crosses between 6 primary trisomics as females with the interchange heterozygote, the involvement in the interchange of chromosomes 3 and 12 was clearly demonstrated.     

加拿大披碱草和圆柱披碱草BC1植株的细胞遗传学鉴定

以加拿大披碱草(2n=4x=28)和圆柱披碱草(2n=6x=42)为材料,对其BC1植株染色体数目、配对构型以及花粉育性和结实性等进行了鉴定。结果显示:BC1代85%以上细胞染色体数目为28条(2n=4x=28);BC1植株的花粉母细胞减数分裂中期Ⅰ染色体配对行为较规则,其平均染色体构型分别为0.04Ⅰ 13.98Ⅱ,且环状二价体多于棒状二价体;BC1植株的花粉可育率和自然结实率分别为84.83%和70.98%,说明BC1植株的育性已得到恢复,为其后代优良株系的选育奠定了基础。     

The yeast magmas ortholog pam16 has an essential function in fermentative growth that involves sphingolipid metabolism

Magmas is a growth factor responsive gene encoding an essential mitochondrial protein in mammalian cells. Pam16, the Magmas ortholog in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, is a component of the presequence translocase-associated motor. A temperature-sensitive allele (pam16-I61N) was used to query an array of non-essential gene-deletion strains for synthetic genetic interactions. The pam16-I61N mutation at ambient temperature caused synthetic lethal or sick phenotypes with genes involved in lipid metabolism, perixosome synthesis, histone deacetylation and mitochondrial protein import. The gene deletion array was also screened for suppressors of the pam16-I61N growth defect to identify compensatory pathways. Five suppressor genes were identified (SUR4, ISC1, IPT1, SKN1, and FEN1) and all are involved in sphingolipid metabolism. pam16-I61N cells cultured in glucose at non-permissive temperatures resulted in rapid growth inhibition and G1 cell cycle arrest, but cell viability was maintained. Altered mitochondria morphology, reduced peroxisome induction in glycerol/ethanol and oleate, and changes in the levels of several sphingolipids including C18 alpha-hydroxy-phytoceramide, were also observed in the temperature sensitive strain. Deletion of SUR4, the strongest suppressor, reversed the temperature sensitive fermentative growth defect, the morphological changes and the elevated levels of C18 alpha-hydroxy phytoceramide in pam16-I61N. Deletion of the other four suppressor genes had similar effects on C18 alpha-hydroxy-phytoceramide levels and restored proliferation to the pam16-I61N strain. In addition, pam16-I61N inhibited respiratory growth, likely by reducing cardiolipin, which is essential for mitochondrial function. Our results suggest that the pleiotropic effects caused by impaired Pam16/Magmas function are mediated in part by changes in lipid metabolism.     

Mechanismus der nondisjunktionalen Chromosomenverteilung und die Ursachen der Pollensterilität bei Rhoeo spathacea

Different types of chromosome configurations during the meiotic metaphase I of pollen mother cells of Rhoeo spathacea were identified. The rates of these configurational types show only little variation under extreme environmental conditions. For nearly all configurational types the ratio of chromosome rings to chains was found to be the same. — During metaphase I the chromosomes arrange in the following way: At the beginning, due to spatial properties of the pollen mother cells, spindle fibers are attached to the centromeres of only a few chromosomes. Starting with these firstly attached ones all chromosomes are arranged in the equatorial region, accomplished by a contraction of the chromosomal apparatus. Frequently this results in the nondisjunctional distribution of two pairs of chromosomes. The theoretical calculations of the frequencies of the various configurational types to be expected in this observed mechanism were in agreement with the actually observed frequencies. — The arrangement of chromosomes during late metaphase I and their actual distribution in anaphase I show that about one half of the unequal types have reorientated to equal ones. — The number of pollen grains and the percentage of sterility depend extensively upon environmental conditions. When the conditions are more favourable, more pollen grains are produced and the degree of sterility is lowered. — The decay of pollen occurs during several stages: In the first stage, lasting from the dissolution of the layer enveloping the tetrad until the end of pollen mitosis I, approximately 55 per cent of the pollen grains decay due to the haploid lethal factor and the deficiencies of the (n-l)-chromosome sets. In a second stage, from the end of pollen mitosis I to anthesis, up to additional 30 per cent of the grains decay. This is largely determined by environmental factors, possibly acting upon the periplasmodium, and disharmonic combinations of chromosomes. All grains with intact chromosome complexes probably will not be affected during these two stages. However, they may also decay under extremely unfavourable conditions, due to a misfunction of the periplasmodium, this being the third stage.     

Cytomixis in Lolium perenne

Cytomixis is a spontaneous process occurring through the formation of cytoplasmic bridges between adjacent pollen mother cells. This phenomenon was observed in the pollen mother cells of 3 genotypes of Lolium perenne which had been subjected to directional selection for productivity of green material. — The process has led to the formation of up to 34.8% of PMCs with chromosome numbers deviating from the normal diploid number 2n=14. The abnormal PMCs contained chromosome numbers ranging from 2–56 as observed at first metaphase. — Abnormal PMCs were also observed with approximately the same frequency in Meiosis II. This phenomenon is under genetic control. The evolutionary significance of cytomixis and the cytological consequences are discussed.     

ENDOMITOSIS IN TAPETAL CELLS OF EREMURUS (LILIACEAE)

True endomitosis in the anther tapetum of the liliaceous plant Eremurus is described. The nuclear membrane does not disappear, but during metaphase the chromosomes are condensed, often considerably more than in normal mitosis. When the pollen mother cells (PMCs) go through the last premeiotic mitosis, the tapetal cells have one diploid nucleus which divides while the cell remains undivided. The two diploid nuclei may undergo an endomitosis and the resulting tetraploid nuclei a second endomitosis. An alternative pathway is an ordinary mitosis—again without cell division—instead of one of the endomitotic cycles. The cytological picture in the tapetum is further complicated by restitution in anaphase and fusion of metaphase and anaphase groups during mitosis, processes which could give rise to cells with one, two, or three nuclei, instead of the expected two or four. No sign of the so-called “inhibited” mitosis is seen in these tapetal cells. When the PMCs are in leptotene-zygotene, very few tapetal nuclei are in endomitosis. When the PMCs have reached diplotene, almost 100% of cells which are not in interphase show an endomitotic stage.