Isolation of two populations of sperm cells from the pollen tube of Torenia fournieri

The two sperm cells of Torenia fournieri are dimorphic. The dimorphic character suggests that they might be preferentially involved in fertilization during in vivo fusion with the egg cell and central cell. To probe the mechanism of preferential fertilization, it is necessary to use the most current molecular techniques. For this purpose, populations of >1000 individuals of the two dimorphic sperm cells, Sua (unassociated with the vegetative nucleus) and Svn (associated with the vegetative nucleus) were isolated from pollen tubes that had grown out of the cut ends of the styles. The two sperm cells released from pollen tubes remained attached to one another. When the two attached sperm cells were transferred into a solution containing 0.01% cellulose, 0.01% pectinase, and 5% mannitol, the connection between the two cells disappeared, and they were easily separated using a micromanipulator. The collection of these two individual populations containing over a thousand cells will permit research on gametic recognition at the molecular level.     

IAA stimulates pollen tube growth and mediates the modification of its wall composition and structure in Torenia fournieri

The effects of several hormones on pollen tube growth were compared in Torenia fournieri and it was found that IAA was the most effective, stimulating pollen tube growth and causing the shank part of pollen tubes to be slender and straighter. The role of IAA was investigated by studying the changes in ultrastructure and PM H(+)-ATPase distribution in the pollen tubes and the modification of the tube wall. Using the fluorescent marker FM4-64, together with transmission electron microscopy, it was shown that secretory vesicles and mitochondria increased in IAA-treated tubes. Immunolocalization and fluorescence labelling, together with Fourier-transform infrared analysis, detected that IAA enhanced the level of PM H(+)-ATPase and the synthesis of pectins, and reduced the cellulose density in pollen tubes. Importantly, to observe the orientation of cellulose microfibrils in pollen tubes in situ, atomic force microscopy was used to examine the 'intact' tube wall. Atomic force microscopy images showed that cellulose microfibrils were parallel to each other in the subapical region of IAA-treated tubes, but disorganized in control tubes. All results provided new insights into the functions of cellulose microfibrils in pollen tube growth and direction, and revealed that the IAA-induced changes of pollen tubes were attributed to the increase in secretory vesicles, mitochondria, and PM H(+)-ATPase, and the modification of pectin and cellulose microfibrils in the tube wall.     

The synergid cell: attractor and acceptor of the pollen tube for double fertilization

In flowering plants, the egg cell is generally accompanied by two symmetrical cells, called synergid cells. As early as the 1870s, synergid cells were distinguished from egg cells and cooperation between synergid and egg cells was proposed; the term "synergid" is derived from the Greek "synergos," which means "working together." The accumulation of morphological and genetic data, and, more recently, the in vitro physiological analysis of the fertilization system of Torenia fournieri, have revealed that synergid cells work together with egg and central cells to accomplish double fertilization. This cooperation is of crucial importance in the attraction and acceptance of the pollen tube. In this review article, I focus on the physiological function and behavior of the synergid cell during the fertilization process. Received: December 20, 2001 / Accepted: December 27, 2001     

The synergid cell: attractor and acceptor of the pollen tube for double fertilization

In flowering plants, the egg cell is generally accompanied by two symmetrical cells, called synergid cells. As early as the 1870s, synergid cells were distinguished from egg cells and cooperation between synergid and egg cells was proposed; the term "synergid" is derived from the Greek "synergos," which means "working together." The accumulation of morphological and genetic data, and, more recently, the in vitro physiological analysis of the fertilization system of Torenia fournieri, have revealed that synergid cells work together with egg and central cells to accomplish double fertilization. This cooperation is of crucial importance in the attraction and acceptance of the pollen tube. In this review article, I focus on the physiological function and behavior of the synergid cell during the fertilization process.     

Isolation of protoplasts from female gametophytes of Torenia fournieri

Protoplasts from the cells of mature embryo sacs (ES-protoplasts) of Torenia fournieri were obtained during incubation of ovules in an enzyme solution. Four protoplasts which arose from each embryo sac were connected together after isolation, or aggregates of the egg cell protoplast and two synergide protoplasts dissociated from the protoplast of the central cell. The ES-protoplasts stayed viable for 2 weeks in culture, but they did not regenerate cell walls.Abbreviations ES embryo sac - FAA fixative (formalin : acetic acid : alcohol = 1 : 1 : 18) - FDA fluorescein diacetate - PAS periodic acid Schiff reaction - 2,4-D 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid     

Ethylene signaling is critical for synergid cell functional specification and pollen tube attraction

ETHYLENE INSENSITIVE 3 (EIN3) is a key regulator of ethylene signaling, and EIN3‐BINDING F‐BOX1 (EBF1) and EBF2 are responsible for EIN3 degradation. Previous reports have shown that the ebf1 ebf2 double homozygous mutant cannot be identified. In this study, the genetic analysis revealed that the ebf1 ebf2 female gametophyte is defective. The pollination experiment showed that ebf1 ebf2 ovules failed to attract pollen tubes. In female gametophyte/ovule, the synergid cell is responsible for pollen tube attraction. Observation of the pEIN3::EIN3‐GFP transgenic lines showed that EIN3 signal was over‐accumulated at the micropylar end of ebf1 ebf2 female gametophyte. The overexpression of stabilized EIN3 in synergid cell led to the defect of pollen tube guidance. These results suggested that the over‐accumulated EIN3 in ebf1 ebf2 synergid cell blocks its pollen tube attraction which leads to the failure of ebf1 ebf2 homozygous plant. We identified that EIN3 directly activated the expression of a sugar transporter, SENESCENCE‐ASSOCIATED GENE29 (SAG29/SWEET15). Overexpression of SAG29 in synergid cells blocked pollen tube attraction, suggesting that SAG29 might play a role in ethylene signaling to repel pollen tube entry. Taken together, our study reveals that strict control of ethylene signaling is critical for the synergid cell function during plant reproduction.     

蓝猪耳卵细胞和合子的分离

蓝猪耳(Torenia fournieri)胚囊部分裸露出胚珠,在光学显微镜下能清楚观察到卵细胞和助细胞的形态结构.用解剖和酶解-解剖两种方法都能分离出生活卵细胞.用前种方法机械分离出的卵细胞数量较少(5%),但避免了酶对配子识别研究的干扰.在后种方法中加入0.1%纤维素酶和0.1%果胶酶既能使分离更加容易操作,又对卵细胞没有致命伤害,能在短时间内分离出较多的卵细胞(18%).用酶解-解剖方法也可分离出授粉14 h后的合子细胞.     

蓝猪耳小孢子发生和雄配子体发育

利用常规石蜡切片和超薄切片技术研究蓝猪耳(Torenia fournien)小孢子发生和雄配子体发育过程.蓝猪耳雄蕊4枚,花药具4个花粉囊.小孢子母细胞经减数分裂成四分体,其排列方式为四面体形或左右对称形.成熟花粉属2细胞型,具3个萌发孔.花药壁发育为双子叶型,腺质绒毡层.小孢子母细胞在四分体时期频繁出现细胞质降解的异常现象,其它发育阶段均正常;小孢子母细胞不正常的减数分裂可能导致花粉败育,这可能是蓝猪耳结实率低的原因之一.     

TDZ诱导的蓝猪耳根高效再生体系(简报)

研究NAA、6-BA及TDZ等激素对蓝猪耳根脱分化及再生效率的影响,结果发现:NAA和6-BA二者组合诱导根愈伤的效果较差,低于TDZ诱导效果;在1/2MS TDZ1.5mg/L培养基上诱导的愈伤数量和效率较佳,在诱芽培养基上可获得大量分生芽,且生长快,接种到生根培养基上可100%生根,正常生长。     

根癌农杆菌介导蓝猪耳转化的影响因素研究

研究了根癌农杆菌介导蓝猪耳转化的影响因子。结果表明,以蓝色花类型蓝猪耳5~6周的叶片为外植体,在OD₆₀₀为0.5~0.6的活化菌液中浸染5~10min,暗培养4d后,在愈伤组织诱导培养基(MS+BA 1.0mg/L+2,4-D 0.1mg/L)上生长14d,获得抗性愈伤组织;经芽诱导培养基(1/2MS+BA 1.0mg/L+NAA 0.1mg/L)培养28d得到抗性芽;生根培养基(1/2MS)上培养14d得到抗性植株。经PCR检测证实外源基因已整合到蓝猪耳基因组中,转化率达13%~14%。Cef和Hyg浓度对转化影响较大,转化的不同阶段其适宜浓度不同。     

蓝猪耳的组织培养和植株再生

1　植物名称　蓝猪耳 (Ｔｏｒｅｎｉａｆｏｕｒｎｉｅｒｉ)。2　材料类别　叶片。3　培养条件　 ( 1 )ＭＳ培养基 ;( 2 )ＭＳ +ＮＡＡ 0 .1ｍｇ·Ｌ- 1 (单位下同 ) + 6 ＢＡ 1 ;( 3)ＭＳ +ＩＡＡ 0 .1 +6 ＢＡ 1 ,( 4 )ＭＳ + 2 ,4 Ｄ 0 .1 + 6 ＢＡ 1 ;( 5 )ＭＳ +2 ,4 Ｄ 0 .0 1 + 6 ＢＡ 1 ;( 6)ＭＳ +ＩＡＡ 1。培养基均加 0 .7%琼脂、3%蔗糖 ,ｐＨ 5 .8。培养温度为 2 2～2 5℃ ,每天照光 1 2ｈ ,光照度 1 5 0 0～ 2 0 0 0ｌｘ。4　生长与分化情况4.1　芽的诱导　切取蓝猪耳幼苗叶片 ,用蒸馏水冲洗干净后 ,在 70 %酒精中浸洗 30ｓ,然…     

蓝猪耳精细胞的分离及两个精细胞群体的收集

蓝猪耳是二细胞型花粉,生殖细胞在花粉管中分裂形成两个精细胞。用体内-体外技术培养出花粉管后,将其置于爆破液中即可释放出花粉管内含物,其中包括两个精细胞和营养细胞。在显微镜下两个精细胞具二型性：体积较大的精细胞与花粉管的营养核相连,体积较小的精细胞只与大精细胞连接。两个精细胞之间的连接比较结实,需用微量酶液将两个精细胞分开。用显微操作仪就可分别挑选出两个精细胞群体,分别有上百个细胞。蓝猪耳精细胞的成功分离为利用蓝猪耳开展离体受精研究打下了良好的基础。这种单一纯化的精细胞群体的获得为用分子生物学方法区分两个精细胞的特异基因和蛋白质创造了条件。     

蓝猪耳离体受精初试

用体内-体外方法分离了蓝猪耳精细胞。用酶解和解剖方法分离了其成熟卵细胞。分离的精、卵细胞用电融合介导尝试了体外诱导融合。在合适的渗透压(6%甘露醇)和合适的氯化钙(0.04%CaCl2·2H2O)溶液中,用交流电场为30～35V,10～25s使精、卵细胞排队;用直流电场400～600V,45～50μs的脉冲穿孔条件可诱导30%的精、卵细胞融合和70%以上的卵细胞之间的融合。尝试了人工合子的单细胞培养但未获成功。诱导蓝猪耳精、卵细胞融合的条件与玉米和水稻不同。     

Guidance in vitro of the pollen tube to the naked embryo sac of torenia fournieri

The precise guidance of the pollen tube to the embryo sac is critical to the successful sexual reproduction of flowering plants. We demonstrate here the guidance of the pollen tube to the embryo sac in vitro by using the naked embryo sac of Torenia fournieri, which protrudes from the micropyle of the ovule. We developed a medium for culture of both the ovule and the pollen tube of T. fournieri and cocultivated them in a thin layer of solid medium. Although pollen tubes that had germinated in vitro passed naked embryo sacs, some pollen tubes that grew semi-in vitro through a cut style arrived precisely at the site of entry into the embryo sac, namely, the filiform apparatus of the synergids. When pollen tubes were unable to enter the embryo sac, they continuously grew toward the same filiform apparatus, forming narrow coils. Pollen tubes selectively arrived at complete, unfertilized embryo sacs but did not arrive at those of heat-treated ovules or those with disrupted synergids. These results convincingly demonstrate that pollen tubes are specifically attracted to the region of the filiform apparatus of living synergids in vitro.     

Isolation and osmotic relations of developing megagametophytes of Torenia fournieri

A new method is reported to isolate and handle living megagametophytes of Torenia fournieri at any developmental stage. The stages were determined using light microscopy and delimited by correlating floral morphological traits. When significant changes in the osmotic pressure were found during development, enzyme solutions contained different concentrations of osmoticum. Osmotic pressure is lowest in the megaspore, increases until the four-nucleate stage and then gradually decreases until complete embryo sac formation. In enzymatic solutions containing appropriate concentrations of osmoticum, protoplasts of megaspores, two-, four-, eight-nucleate embryo sacs, egg cells, synergids and central cells were successfully isolated. The living protoplasts were collected by micromanipulator, transferred into microdroplets and tested for viability. Received: 1 June 1998 / Revision accepted: 20 May 1999     

三种提取蓝猪耳总DNA方法的比较

针对蓝猪耳（Torenia fournieri L.）叶片中多糖、色素等物质严重干扰总DNA提取质量的问题,以蓝猪耳叶片为试验材料,分别采用高盐低pH值法、SDS法、CTAB法提取总DNA,并从样品电泳图谱、纯度、得率等方面对三种方法进行评价。结果表明,CTAB法提取总DNA的产率较高、纯度最好,是蓝猪耳总DNA提取的最佳方法。