毛酸浆(Physalis pubescens)花形态特征与小孢子发育

许多重要蔬菜和水果隶属于茄科(Solanaceae),植物花发育是物种延续和产品形成关键决定因子。茄科毛酸浆(Physalispubescens)是药食同源半野生浆果,目前其花发育研究不多。为了从不同视角了解茄科植物花发育,本研究采用比较生物学方法从花的形态特征和解剖学层面解析了毛酸浆(P.pubescens)和茄科模式植物番茄(Solanum lycopersicum var. cerasiforme)花器特征和小孢子发育进程。结果显示,开花后毛酸浆花萼迅速生长包被果实、花瓣有紫色斑纹、花药顶颈可育及背部开裂散粉特征与番茄花萼生长缓慢、黄色花瓣、花药顶颈不育及腹缝开裂散粉方式截然不同,展示了茄科植物遗传多样性。毛酸浆小孢子发育,在“四分体”之前迟于番茄,而“四分体”之后期却快于番茄。特别是番茄药隔组织在“四分体”时期开始向药室异常内突,并在花粉成熟期占据药室近1/2空间,而未在毛酸浆中观察到。该研究为开发茄科新的模式植物和从不同视角理解庞大茄科植物花发育提供了重要信息。     

狭叶柴胡胚及胚乳发育的研究

利用石蜡切片以及半薄切片法对狭叶柴胡的胚及胚乳的发育进行了研究,并对采收期果实中胚的发育情况进行了统计。结果表明:(1)狭叶柴胡胚的发育属于茄型;胚乳核的发育早于合子的分裂,胚乳的发育属于核型。(2)于采收期对狭叶柴胡果实的胚发育阶段观察发现,狭叶柴胡采收期有26%的果实处于球形胚时期,29.6%的果实处于早期心形胚时期,37.4%的果实处于后期心形胚时期,仅有7%果实处于鱼雷胚时期,所有被检测的果实中未发现有双子叶时期胚出现。研究表明,狭叶柴胡采收期果实存在严重的形态后熟现象,是导致在其栽培过程中出现发芽率低和出苗不整齐现象的主要原因。     

自然界中的无籽果实是怎样形成的?

绿色开花植物的个体发育是从受精卵开始的,它在生殖上具有独特的双受精现象。卵细胞受精后发育形成胚(幼小植物的雏体),受精极核发育成胚乳,整个胚珠发育成种子,子房发育成为果实。但自然界中也有些植物在开花后不经过受精作用也能结出果实,但无种子。因此在发育成熟的果实里,有的含种子,有的不含种子;前者称为有籽果实,后者称为无籽果实,生物学上也把后者称为单性结实。在被子植物中,能够结出无籽果实有三种情况:一是不经过授粉和其他刺激而产生果实的,如香蕉、凤梨、无子柑桔、无籽柠檬,在番茄、南瓜、黄瓜、胡椒等植物中也偶有发生;这种…     

温室栽培活动改进了生物教学

生物教学中,利用活的植物进行课堂演示,领导学生观察、实习和实验是提高教学质量的重要关键之一。但在北方,由于严寒的季节占去了全年的一半时间,植物在田园和旷野里的生长时期很短,给教学造成很大的困难。为了克服这一困难,我校建筑了70平方米的温室,里面种植了栽培、野生及花卉等60多种植物,在冰冻雪飘气温零下20℃的天气里,室里却保持着20—25℃的温度,一般植物都正常地发育着,番茄、黄瓜及菜豆等结了果实;秋海棠、旱莲及蒲公英     

黄连木果实中油体的发育

黄连木（Pistacia chinensis）是一种重要的木本油料植物,其果实中贮存着大量的油脂,这些油脂分子主要存在于果皮、种皮和胚的油体中。在光学显微镜下观察发现,果皮中油的积累开始于果实发育晚期,果皮开始变红时;种皮中油体的发育开始于果实发育早期;胚中油体的发育开始于球形胚时期。透射电子显微镜观察结果显示,种皮和胚中的油体形成于内质网,而果皮中的油体则分别由内质网、质体和液泡形成。尼罗红荧光标记显示,内质网形成的油体始终以独立单元的形式存在。种皮和胚中也贮藏蛋白体,但发育晚于油体。果皮、种皮和子叶中都贮存少量的淀粉粒。     

表达多聚半乳糖醛酸酶反义RNA的转基因番茄分析

果实成熟是一系列基因在时空上有序表达的结果［１］,成熟阶段出现的多聚半乳糖醛酸酶（ＰＧ,Ｅ,Ｃ,３,２,１,１５）在果实软化过程中起作用［２,３］。番茄果实的软化与ＰＧｍＲＮＡ及ＰＧ活性增加呈平行关系［４］。ＰＧ的表达有发育阶段性［１,５］与组织特异性［６,７］,其调控主要是在转录水平［８,９］。本工作将ＰＧ反义基因转入番茄,对Ｔ０～Ｔ２代转基因果实的ＰＧ活性、生理后熟行为及品质进行了研究。１　材料和方法１．１　ＰＧ反义基因植物表达载体构建及Ｎｏｒｔｈｅｒｎ检测方法见前文［１０］。１．２　转化与…     

单性结实与无籽番茄、无籽西瓜的培育

被子植物传粉受精后 ,胚珠开始发育并产生大量生长素使子房增大发育成果实。但自然界中也有些植物在开花后不通过受精作用子房发育成果实 ,但无种子。因此在发育成熟的果实里 ,有的含种子 ,有的不含种子 ;前者称为有籽果实 ,后者称为无籽果实 ,生物学上也把后者的结实方式称为单性结实。单性结实有天然的单性结实 (或称自动的单性结实 )和刺激性单性结实 (或称被动的单性结实 )。天然的单性结实是指不需要经过传粉刺激和其他刺激 ,子房就发育为无籽果实的 ,如香蕉、凤梨、无籽柑橘、无籽柠檬 ,在番茄、黄瓜和胡椒等植物中也偶有发生。这种类…     

SlCBL1基因调控番茄果实成熟发育的分子机理

以番茄(Solanum lycopersicum L.)品种‘Micro Tom’为试材,从其果实中克隆得到番茄类钙调磷酸酶B基因(Tomato Calcineurin B-Like gene,SlCBL1),构建其带有报告基因的e-GFP植物表达载体,分析番茄果实中SlCBL1基因超表达与成熟发育进程的相互关系。结果显示:(1)与对照非转基因植株以及转空载植株相比,转SlCBL1基因番茄中SlCBL1基因过量表达,而且能够使番茄果实成熟期提前3~5d,表明SlCBL1基因可促进番茄果实成熟。(2)番茄果实成熟相关基因的表达量也受到不同程度调控,其中番茄成熟过程中的色素合成基因、乙烯路径基因以及果实成熟相关转录因子都受到强烈的调控,与对照相比表达量分别上调5~10倍。研究表明,SlCBL1基因能够促进番茄果实成熟,而且通过影响色素合成基因以及果实成熟相关转录因子来调控番茄果实成熟。     

外源5-氨基乙酰丙酸对设施番茄果实发育及糖酸品质的影响北大核心CSCD

番茄果实糖酸类物质的含量及比例直接影响其风味品质,前期研究表明,适宜浓度的外源5-氨基乙酰丙酸(ALA)能够促进果实的成熟并提高其芳香品质。该试验为探究外源ALA对番茄果实发育及其糖酸品质的影响,以番茄‘原味1号’(Solanum lycopersicum cv.Yuanwei No.1)品种为试材,于第4穗果授粉后10 d果实表面喷施0、100和200 mg·L^(-1)的ALA溶液,分析ALA对番茄果实形态、果皮色泽及果实不同部位组织中糖、酸类物质组分及含量的影响。结果表明:(1)外源ALA溶液能显著促进番茄果实横径、纵径的增加,提高果实单果重,还显著降低果实硬度,促进果实软化,提升果实口感,并提高了果实V_(C)和可溶性固形物含量。(2)果实不同部位组织(包括果肉、小柱和隔膜)糖类物质组分含量测定结果显示,外源ALA处理能够显著提高果实可溶性总糖含量(包括果糖、葡萄糖和蔗糖),并有利于糖类物质向果肉中积累。(3)在有机酸类物质中,除酒石酸含量增加外,外源ALA处理均能不同程度地降低果实各部位组织中酸类物质含量,从而显著提高番茄果实果肉部位糖酸比,提升果实糖酸品质。研究发现,在番茄果实发育过程中外源施用200 mg·L^(-1) ALA不仅能够促进果实发育及着色,提高单果重,提升果实的外观品质,还有利于果实糖酸品质的形成。     

胡萝卜HRGP启动子调控GUS基因的某些特点

HRG(hydroxyproline rich glycoproteins)是高等植物细胞壁中一类富含羟脯氨酸的糖蛋白,是植物细胞壁中主要的结构蛋白。早期研究认为其在细胞壁的形成过程中起作用并称之为伸展蛋白(extensin)。在双子叶植物中,HRGP基因以多基因家族形式存在,具有特定的表达模式。许多条件及处理都能引起HRGP表达量的增加,如伤害、真菌感染、病毒感染、乙烯、细胞培养、红光等,同时也受到发育水平的调节。在单子叶植物中,玉米HRGP的表达是在发育水平上受伤害调节的。HRGP基因还具有组织专一性表达的特点。在大豆种子中,HRGP主要存在于种皮的外两层、表皮栅栏组织和滴漏细胞中,属于起支持作用的厚壁组织。在胡萝卜根韧皮部薄壁细胞中HRGP含量最丰富,而在健康的番茄根中     

Virus-induced gene silencing in tomato fruit

Virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) is a powerful tool for the study of gene function in plants. Here we report that either by syringe-infiltrating the tobacco rattle virus (TRV)-vector into the surface, stem or carpopodium of a tomato fruit attached to the plant or by vacuum-infiltrating into a tomato fruit detached from the plant, TRV can efficiently spread and replicate in the tomato fruit. Although VIGS can be performed in tomato fruit by all of the means mentioned above, the most effective method is to inject the TRV-vector into the carpopodium of young fruit attached to the plant about 10 days after pollination. Several reporter genes related to ethylene responses and fruit ripening, including LeCTR1 and LeEILs genes, were also successfully silenced by this method during fruit development. In addition, we found that the silencing of the LeEIN2 gene results in the suppression of tomato fruit ripening. The results of our study indicate that the application of VIGS techniques by the described methods can be successfully applied to tomato fruit and is a valuable tool for studying functions of the relevant genes during fruit developing.     

Reproductive water supply is prioritized during drought in tomato

Reproductive success largely defines the fitness of plant species. Understanding how heat and drought affect plant reproduction is thus key to predicting future plant fitness under rising global temperatures. Recent work suggests reproductive tissues are highly vulnerable to water stress in perennial plants where reproductive sacrifice could preserve plant survival. However, most crop species are annuals where such a strategy would theoretically reduce fitness. We examined the reproductive strategy of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum var. Rheinlands Ruhm) to determine whether water supply to fruits is prioritized above vegetative tissues during drought. Using optical methods, we mapped xylem cavitation and tissue shrinkage in vegetative and reproductive organs during dehydration to determine the priority of water flow under acute water stress. Stems and peduncles of tomato showed significantly greater xylem cavitation resistance than leaves. This maintenance of intact water supply enabled tomato fruit to continue to expand during acute water stress, utilizing xylem water made available by tissue collapse and early cavitation of leaves. Here, tomato plants prioritize water supply to reproductive tissues, maintaining fruit development under drought conditions. These results emphasize the critical role of water transport in shaping life history and suggest a broad relevance of hydraulic prioritization in plant ecology.     

An expansin gene expressed in ripening strawberry fruit

Tissue softening accompanies the ripening of many fruit and initiates the processes of irreversible deterioration. Expansins are plant cell wall proteins proposed to disrupt hydrogen bonds within the cell wall polymer matrix. Expression of specific expansin genes has been observed in tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) meristems, expanding tissues, and ripening fruit. It has been proposed that a tomato ripening-regulated expansin might contribute to cell wall polymer disassembly and fruit softening by increasing the accessibility of specific cell wall polymers to hydrolase action. To assess whether ripening-regulated expansins are present in all ripening fruit, we examined expansin gene expression in strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa Duch.). Strawberry differs significantly from tomato in that the fruit is derived from receptacle rather than ovary tissue and strawberry is non-climacteric. A full-length cDNA encoding a ripening-regulated expansin, FaExp2, was isolated from strawberry fruit. The deduced amino acid sequence of FaExp2 is most closely related to an expansin expressed in early tomato development and to expansins expressed in apricot fruit rather than the previously identified tomato ripening-regulated expansin, LeExp1. Nearly all previously identified ripening-regulated genes in strawberry are negatively regulated by auxin. Surprisingly, FaExp2 expression was largely unaffected by auxin. Overall, our results suggest that expansins are a common component of ripening and that non-climacteric signals other than auxin may coordinate the onset of ripening in strawberry.     

Inhibitor-resistant early ethylene production during tomato fruit development

In addition to the ethylene formed at the onset of tomato fruit ripening, three peaks of ethylene are produced during earlier periods of in vitro development of tomato flower to fruit. This is the first report characterizing ethylene production during early development of tomato fruit. Previous reports from this laboratory showed that VFNT Cherry tomato calyces are transformed into fruit tissue when cultured in vitro at lower temperatures (16–23 °C). Early ethylene production was also measured in these ripening calyces, as well as in fruit and calyces of other tomato cultivars cultured in vitro. Calyces from Ailsa Craig and rin tomato flowers, which are not transformed into fruit tissue at these lower temperatures, also form ethylene during early periods of in vitro culture, but to a much smaller extent. Unlike ethylene formed at the onset of fruit ripening, the earlier peaks are resistant to the inhibitors, aminovinylglycine (AVG) and CoCl₂. The data suggest that ethylene produced during earlier periods of tomato fruit development is formed by an alternative biosynthetic pathway.     

Integration of tomato reproductive developmental landmarks and expression profiles, and the effect of SUN on fruit shape

Background  

Universally accepted landmark stages are necessary to highlight key events in plant reproductive development and to facilitate comparisons among species. Domestication and selection of tomato resulted in many varieties that differ in fruit shape and size. This diversity is useful to unravel underlying molecular and developmental mechanisms that control organ morphology and patterning. The tomato fruit shape gene SUN controls fruit elongation. The most dramatic effect of SUN on fruit shape occurs after pollination and fertilization although a detailed investigation into the timing of the fruit shape change as well as gene expression profiles during critical developmental stages has not been conducted.     

ABA-deficiency results in reduced plant and fruit size in tomato

Abscisic acid (ABA) deficient mutants, such as notabilis and flacca, have helped elucidating the role of ABA during plant development and stress responses in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.). However, these mutants have only moderately decreased ABA levels. Here we report on plant and fruit development in the more strongly ABA-deficient notabilis/flacca (not/flc) double mutant. We observed that plant growth, leaf-surface area, drought-induced wilting and ABA-related gene expression in the different genotypes were strongly correlated with the ABA levels and thus most strongly affected in the not/flc double mutants. These mutants also had reduced fruit size that was caused by an overall smaller cell size. Lower ABA levels in fruits did not correlate with changes in auxin levels, but were accompanied by higher ethylene evolution rates. This suggests that in a wild-type background ABA stimulates cell enlargement during tomato fruit growth via a negative effect on ethylene synthesis.     

Energy conservation and dissipation in mitochondria isolated from developing tomato fruit of ethylene-defective mutants failing normal ripening: the effect of ethephon,a chemical precursor of ethylene

Alternative oxidase (AOX) and uncoupling protein (UCP) are present simultaneously in tomato fruit mitochondria. In a previous work, it has been shown that protein expression and activity of these two energy-dissipating systems exhibit large variations during tomato fruit development and ripening on the vine. It has been suggested that AOX and UCP could be responsible for the respiration increase at the end of ripening and that the cytochrome pathway could be implicated in the climacteric respiratory burst before the onset of ripening. In this study, the use of tomato mutants that fail normal ripening because of deficiencies in ethylene perception or production as well as the treatment of one selected mutant with a chemical precursor of ethylene have revealed that the bioenergetics of tomato fruit development and ripening is under the control of this plant hormone. Indeed, the evolution pattern of bioenergetic features changes with the type of mutation and with the introduction of ethylene into an ethylene-synthesis-deficient tomato fruit mutant during its induced ripening.