Studies on the Anther Culture of Triticale

The present paper deals with the study of factors affecting the frequency of induction of Triticale pollen callus in anther culture. The following experimental results have been obtained: 1. The N6 medium and B5 medium were superior to MS medium in the production of pollen callus, and the difference between N6 medium and B5 medium was not obvious. 2. When 6 to 12 per cent of sucrose was added in medium, the induction frequency of pollen callus was higher, however, this higher frequency decreased with the concentration of sucrose down to 3 per cent. 3. It was found that there was no regultr correlation between the frequency of the formation of the pollen callus and concentrations of 2,4-D (0.5 ppm, 2 ppm, 5 ppm and 10 ppm) in medium. 4. Induction frequency of pollen callus increased apparently when active carbon (0.5 per cent) was added. 5. The liquid medium was capable of improving yields of the pollen callus. 6. It is not important for the formation of the pollen callus whether the cultures were kept in light or in dark. 7. Before inoculation the spikes were inserted into a bottle with N6 medium solution and pretreated at 3–5℃ for 3 days, the frequency of callus formation may be efficiently increased in comparison with those treated in water. When N6 medium was supplemented with 2,4-D (2 ppm), NAA (2 ppm) and kinetin (0.5 ppm), either used singly or in combination, the frequency of callus formation was not obviously increased.     

甘蓝花药培养胚状体诱导形成影响因子研究

用甘蓝F1、F2和自交系S33个世代6种基因型材料进行甘蓝花药培养诱导胚状体形成影响因子研究。结果显示:(1)高浓度蔗糖对甘蓝胚状体形成具有显著的诱导作用,6%蔗糖浓度是甘蓝花药培养的最适浓度,其胚状体的诱导率最高达12.2%;(2)材料基因型是影响花药培养的主要因素,F2和F1代材料胚状体诱导效果好,且胚状体诱导率F2代(F2P192和F2P194)18.9%比F1代(F1S17和F1S13)17.1%较高,但差异不显著,自交系S3代材料很难诱导出胚状体;(3)B5培养基比MS培养基更适合甘蓝花药胚状体的诱导培养。结果表明,甘蓝F2代是其花药诱导培养胚状体的最佳基因型材料,B5 2.0 mg/L 2,4-D 2.0 mg/L KT 6%Suc是甘蓝花药诱导培养胚状体的最适培养基。     

Anther Culture and Androgenesis of Hordeum Vulgare L.

This paper reports our preliminary experimental results of barley anther culture. The results so far obtained suggested that N6 (or LS) medium supplemented with 12% sucrose, 1 ppm IAA, 1 ppm BAP and 0.5 ppm MCPA (or 2,4-D) is suitable for barley anther culture. Hormone-free culture allows callus and embryoid production. However, exogenous hormones have a significant beneficial effect. Anther of 54 cultivars were cultured and their induction frequency was compared. In most of cultivars the value was low, but several highly responsive cultivars were found out. In general, the more responsive cultivars belong to 2-rowed types and tho 4- or 6-rowed types are less responsive (Table 1). Microscopical observations made on 36 cultivars revealed that percentage of anthers containing multinucleate and/or multicellular grains are higher than the final induction frequency, indicating the potentiality of callus production in most of cultivars (Table 2). There are three pathways of pollen and rogenesis in barley, i.e. division of vegetative nucleus (Plate Ⅰ, 2–8), division of Vegetative and generative nucleus (Plate Ⅰ, 9–12) and equal division of the microspore (Plate Ⅰ, 13–18). Each pathway involves free-nucleate and cellular types. There are two patterns in cellular types of development: (1) cells remain meristematic for a long time; (2) cells vacuolate, early. The free-nucleate type and the "vacuolate" cellular patterns, in comparison with the "meristematic" cellular pattern, generally fail in their further development. The developmental rate and the ploidy status in anther culture of barley were also mentioned. The problem of relatively low induction frequency in most of cultivars is discussed. Question is focussed on the cause of abortion of multinucleate and multicellular grains. It is believed that, the initial developmental pattern may play an important role in determing their future fate.     

To Repeat the Effects of Hormones on the Early Microspore Developments of Wheat in Vitro in Anther Culture

1. The normal development of pollen cells can be transformed by the exoision itself of anther culture: The second mitotic division of pollen grains has been prevented; The frequency of anomalous division of pollen grains was higher than that present in anthers in vive; The generative nuclei after the first mitosis were more or less globular in form and in their subsequent developments most of them do not become spindly-shape which is particular to the generative cells in vive. In the meantime, they show a weak staining reaction with Feulgen reagent. 2. The higher concentrations of hormones were found to enhance the frequency of abnormal division obviously. Of anthers cultured on the four N6 media added with various concentration ratios of IAA to Kinetin 2:10, 10:2, 2:12, and 12:2 mg/l. The mean percentages of abnormal pollen grains were 34.02%, 35.28%, 34.27% and 36.65% respectively. 3. The higher hormone level may promote the formation of multicellular pollen grains obviously. When the IAA concentration was raised up to 12 mg/l, the mean multieellular pollen grain yields per anther increased to 13.3 unit, while the control without hormone was only 4 unit.     

Initial Patterns of Androgenesis in Wheat Anther Culture

1. There are mainly two modes of first divisions from pollen cells diverted into sporophytes in anther culture of wheat, i.e. equal and unequal divisions. According to Feulgen reaction of its daughter nuclei and whether they participate in the formation of multicellular pollen or not, we distinguished four basic types of the abnormal pollen, i.e. type A, B. C and D. C and D are the types in which their generative nuclei were involved in the formation of multicellular pollen. 2. Before inoculation, the excised anthers on Ne liquid medium supplemented with 10% sucrose were subjected to a pretreatment for 72 h at 3–5 ℃, then the anthers were suspended on N6 liquid medium containing 12 mg/L IAA, 2 mg/L kinetin, 300 mg/L casein hydrolysate and 10% sucrose. Under these conditions the mean amount of multicellular pollen grains per anther might be increased to 21.42. 3. We also found that the early development of pollens was related to the viability of anther wall tissue. Comparatively, higher exogenous hormones could keep viability and prolong the life of anther wall cells.     

Pollen Dimorphism and Its Relation to the Formation of Pollen Embryos in Anther Culture of Wheat (Triticum aestivum)

The anomalous pollen grains in vivo at the frequencies of 2.61% and 6.81% respectively were found in anthers of two hybrid materials of wheat from which we had obtained the higher frequencies of induction of pollen embryos in anther culture in the past few years. This indicated that the pollen dimorphism also presented itself in the anthers on wheat plants. A comparative cytological study of development of anomalous pollen grains in vivo and of the early stages of the formation of pollen embryos in vitro was carried out and the results suggest that in cytological details there is an obvious similarity between them. This reveals the possibility that the pollen embryos night derive itself from the anomalous pollen grains in wheat as in the other plants. Therefore, it was considered that the appearance and frequency of the anomalous pollen grains could show the senibility of the development of microspores to the changes of various internal and external factors. The significance of the sensibility for the formation of pollen embryos in anther culture of wheat is discussed.     

Distribution of insoluble polysaccharides, neutral lipids, and proteins in the developing anthers of Campsis radicans (L.) Seem. (Bignoniaceae)

In this study, distribution of polysaccharides, lipids, and proteins in the developing anthers of Campsis radicans (L.) Seem. was examined from sporogenous cell stage to mature pollen, using cytochemical methods. To detect the distribution and dynamic changes of insoluble polysaccharides, lipid bodies, and proteins in the anthers through progressive developmental stages, semi-thin sections of anthers at different developmental stages were stained with periodic-acid-Schiff (PAS) reagent, Sudan black B, and Coomassie brilliant blue, respectively, and examined under light microscope. Ultrastructural observations with TEM were also carried out to determine the storage form of starch in the connective tissue, and storage form of lipids in the tapetal cells. In sporogenous cell stage, anther wall contains numerous insoluble polysaccharides. However, from the sporogenous cell stage to the vacuolated microspore stage, the amount of insoluble polysaccharides in the anther wall decreases gradually. At bicellular pollen stage, tapetum degenerates completely and polysaccharides are not seen in the anther wall. Lipid bodies are observed in the cytoplasm of both middle layer and tapetal cells at tetrad stage, whereas they disappear in the vacuolated microspore stage. Compared with polysaccharides, proteins are limited in the anther wall at early stages of development. During pollen development, polysaccharides, proteins, and lipid bodies are scarce in the cytoplasm of sporogenous cells, but their amount increases at premeiotic stage. From tetrad stage to bicellular pollen stage, microspore cytoplasm contains variable amount of insoluble polysaccharide grains, lipid and protein bodies. At bicellular pollen stage, plentiful amount of starch granules are stored in the cytoplasm of the pollen grains. Proteins and lipid bodies are also present in the cytoplasm.     

Expression of a wheat ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase gene during development of normal and water-stress-affected anthers

In wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), water deficit during meiosis in the microspore mother cells (MMCs) induces pollen abortion, resulting in the failure of fertilization and a reduction in grain set. In stressed plants, meiosis in MMCs proceeds normally but subsequent pollen development is arrested. Unlike normal pollen grains, which accumulate starch during the late maturation phase, stress-affected anthers contain pollen grains with little or no starch. Stress also alters the normal distribution of starch in the anther wall and connective tissue. To determine how starch biosynthesis is regulated within the developing anthers of stressed plants, we studied the expression of ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase (AGP), which catalyzes the rate limiting step of starch biosynthesis. Two partial-length cDNAs corresponding to the large subunit of AGP were amplified by RT-PCR from anther RNA, and used as probes to monitor AGP expression in developing anthers of normal and water-stressed plants. These clones, WAL1 and WAL2, had identical deduced amino acid sequences and shared 96% sequence identity at the nucleic acid level. In normal anthers, AGP expression was biphasic, indicating that AGP expression is required for starch biosynthesis both during meiosis and later during pollen maturation. AGP expression in stressed anthers was not affected during the first phase of starch accumulation, but was strongly inhibited during the second phase. We conclude from these results that the reduced starch deposition later in the development of stressed pollen could be the result of a lower expression of AGP. However, this inhibition of AGP expression is unlikely to be the primary cause of male sterility because anatomical symptoms of pollen abortion are observed prior to the time when AGP expression is inhibited.     

Anther Culture in Nicotiana tabacum: The Role of the Culture Vessel Atmosphere in Pollen Embryo Induction and Growth

A comparison of four volumes of culture vessel atmosphere revealedthat this variable greatly influenced the induction and growthof pollen embryos from anthers of Nicotiana tabacum. The optimumfrequency of anthers producing embryos and plantlets was foundwith a culture atmosphere of 15 ml per anther, whereas the optimumnumber of plantlets was found with 5.5 ml per anther. A smallvolume (0.5 ml per anther) almost completely suppressed embryoinduction. Removal of specific components of the culture atmosphere(ethylene, carbon dioxide, oxygen) influenced the response ofthe anthers but did not produce a satisfactory explanation ofthe inhibition of pollen embryogenesis by the small cultureatmosphere volume. In particular, the influence of ethyleneabsorption on embryo induction and growth depended both on theculture atmosphere volume and on the stage of development ofthe pollen at the start of culture. Using anthers containingpollen at a stage after the first pollen grain mitosis. ethyleneabsorption was found to increase the survival of induced embryos.Treatment of anthers for 3 d with silver nitrate, a known antagonistof ethylene action, was not an efficient means of increasingthe yield of pollen plantlets.     

Pollen Dimorphism--Origin and Significance in Pollen Plant Formation by Anther Culture

Pollen dimorphism during the ripening of Nicotiana tabacum antherstakes the form of differentiation at the binucleate pollen stageinto normal (N) grains, characterized by their high frequency,larger size, densely–staining cytoplasm and high starchcontent and into smaller (S) grains characterized by their variableand low frequency and weakly–staining cytoplasm. Mostof the S grains show distinctive vegetative and generative nuclei(A grains); a small number have two vegetative–type nuclei(B grains). Evidence is presented that when excised anthersare cultured, pollen plants arise only from S grains. It issuggested that the differentiation into N and S grains arisesby an abnormal second meiotic division in the pollen mothercells. Nicotiana tabacum, tobacco, pollen dimorphism, anther culture     

Dynamic changes in insoluble polysaccharides and neutral lipids in the developing anthers of an endangered plant species, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pancratium maritimum</Emphasis>

Dynamic changes in the distribution of lipid and insoluble polysaccharide reserves of Pancratium maritimum L. (Amaryllidaceae) anthers were investigated throughout the successive stages of pollen development, using cytochemical methods, to determine whether the synthesis, transformation, and mobilization of reserve materials in developing anthers follow the regular pathway in angiosperms and support the physiological activities in developing pollen. Polysaccharides and lipid reserves exhibited a variable pattern of distribution from the sporogenous cell stage to the anthesis. Starch granules and lipid bodies were scarce in the cytoplasm of sporogenous cells, but their number increased significantly at the premeiotic stage. Conversely, starch and lipid reserves of meiocytes reduced at the early prophase of the first meiotic division, and then their amount showed fluctuations during the microsporogenesis. The cytoplasm of free and vacuolated microspores was poor regarding the polysaccharide and lipid reserves. However, at the late vacuolated microspore stage, small insoluble polysaccharides began to appear in the microspore cytoplasm, and their number increased remarkably in the cytoplasm of the bicellular pollen grain. During the maturation of pollen grains, polysaccharide reserves were replaced with lipids. The starch and lipid reserves of the staminal envelope also showed variations at different stages of the anther development. The dynamic changes in the polysaccharide and lipid reserves of P. maritimum anthers were consistent with the physiological activities such as differentiation, cell division and material synthesis that occur in the anther tissue at different stages of the male gametophyte development, and supported the normal pollen development.     

Calcium distribution in fertile and sterile anthers of a photoperiod-sensitive genic male-sterile rice

Potassium antimonate was used to locate Ca²⁺ in fertile and sterile anthers of a photoperiod-sensitive genic male-sterile rice (Oryza sativa L. japonica). During the development of fertile anthers, abundant calcium precipitates accumulated in the anther walls and on the surface of pollen grains and Ubish bodies at the late developmental stage of the microspore, but not in the cytoplasm of pollen grains. Following the accumulation of starch grains in pollen, calcium precipitates on pollen walls diminished and increased in parenchymatous cells of the connective tissue. In sterile anthers, calcium precipitates were abundant in the middle layer and endothecium, but not in the tapetum, as was found in fertile anthers. A special cell wall was observed between the tapetum and middle layer of sterile anthers that appeared to relate to distinctive calcium accumulation patterns and poor pollen wall formation in the loculi. The formation of different patterns of antimonate-induced calcium precipitates in the anthers of photoperiod-sensitive genic male-sterile rice indicates that anomalies in the distribution of calcium accumulation correlate with the failure of pollen development and pollen abortion. Received: 30 May 1997 / Accepted: 5 July 1997     

石刁柏花粉植株诱导及其起源鉴定的研究

采用高渗蔗糖溶液预处理石刁柏花药可以显著抑制花药体细胞分裂和提高花粉愈伤组织诱导率。愈伤组织在转入含低浓度激素的培养基中分化得到了花粉植株。其中单倍体、二倍体、四倍体和非整洁体分别占４．３％、６４．５％、１７．２％和１４．０％。单倍体的频率随愈伤组织培养时间延长而下降,石刁柏幼茎中莽草酸脱氢酶同工酶的多态性表现稳定,用其作为遗传标记结合细胞学方法可以鉴定花粉植株的起源。     

小麦不同基因型材料花药培养中雄核发育的研究

对小麦离体花药中花粉发育的调查表明 :难诱导材料花药在培养初期 ,花粉退化快 ,大量小孢子败育 ,多细胞 (核 )花粉出现晚、频率低 ;而易诱导材料花药培养初期 ,花粉退化相对延缓 ,多细胞 (核 )花粉出现早且频率高 ,这些内在的优势使得更多的小孢子有可能转向孢子体发育 ,从而获得较高的出愈率。     

THE CYTOLOGY OF POLLEN ABORTION IN S CYTOPLASMIC MALE-STERILE CORN ANTHERS

The anther development of the S male-sterile cytoplasm and the fertile maintainer (N) cytoplasm versions of corn inbred W182BN and the restored S cytoplasm version of inbred NY821LERf was studied by light and electron microscopy and compared to pollen abortion in the C and T types of male-sterile cytoplasms. The S anthers did not deviate from the non-male sterile (N) anthers until a very late stage of pollen development. Tapetal cells developed and disappeared normally in the S version which differentiates this cytoplasm from the C and T types. Although some modified membranous structures were seen in a higher frequency in the large vacuole of the sterile S pollen than in the N and restored S counterparts, the mitochondria and other organelles in the S pollen appeared normal up to the time of pollen abortion. Pollen abortion in the S cytoplasm did not occur until the developing pollen was nearly mature. At this time the pollen grains disintegrated abruptly but other anther tissues appeared unaltered. The male sterility of S plants appeared to be determined by the pollen itself without external influence from the tapetum.     

Shed Pollen Culture in Hordeum vulgare

Anthers of Hordeum vulgare cv. Sabarlis at the mid-unicellularpollen stage, pretreated in the excised spike for 14 d at 7°C, dehisce within 24 h of being floated on the surfaceof liquid medium. About half the pollen (1500 grains per anther)is liberated into the medium. If the anthers are then removedand the cultures re-incubated, calluses develop from the shedpollen in high yields. At low anther densities, 10p–20(1–3 x 10⁴ grains) per ml, medium preconditioned by anthersand supplemented with m-inositol (1000 mg 1^–1) is required,but at high densities, 120 anthers (2 x 10⁵ grains) per ml,preconditioning is less important, the cultured anthers themselveshaving a sufficient conditioning influence. Large-scale dissectionof anthers can be avoided by use of drops of medium, the volumebeing increased gradually as culture proceeds. Pollen remainingin the anthers after 3 d gives rise to calluses if isolatedmechanically and cultured in the inositol medium. The use ofshed pollen is seen as particularly valuable for culture inspecies whose anthers are small, tedious to dissect out anddifficult to process without severe damage.     

BA对大麦花药培养中药壁的衰退和植株再生频率的影响

用含20ppm 6-BA的0.1％吐温-80溶液喷施花粉为单核前期的大麦上部叶片和穗部,明显影响大麦花药培养效率。实验结果表明:1)BA处理可明显延缓培养花药的药壁衰退进程。2)BA处理后的花药,在培养期间,其死亡的花粉数比对照大大减少,相反其双核或多核的花粉数比对照明显增加。3)BA处理虽然没有促进大麦花粉愈伤组织的诱导率,但显著地促进愈伤组织的生长。提高愈伤组织成长率,增加可转入分化培养的愈伤组织块数。4)BA处理促进愈伤组织的再分化,尤其是绿苗的分化。     

A simple method for staining nuclei of mature and germinated maize pollen

A sugar acetocarmine staining technique has been developed for staining the sperm and vegetative nucleus of mature and germinated maize pollen grains. This procedure is simple, stable and highly repeatable. The physiological properties of the mature maize pollen grains are first adjusted by using an in vitro germinating culture solution. This solution is 15% sucrose and contains 360 ppm calcium chloride dihydrate, and 120 ppm boric acid. One part fresh pollen grains is uniformly mixed with nine parts of the solution and left at room temperature for at least 5 hr. One part of this solution is then mixed with two parts of regular acetocarmine stain and left overnight. The color of this mixture is pinkish red or raspberry. The sugar in the mixture helps to increase color contrast between the pollen cytoplasm (light pink) and the nuclei (reddish purple), decreases the frequency of burst pollen, increases pollen expansion, stabilizes pollen figures and automatically seals the coverglass.     

A Simple Method for Staining Nuclei of Mature and Germinated Maize Pollen

A sugar acetocannine staining technique has been developed for staining the sperm and vegetative nucleus of mature and germinated maize pollen grains. This procedure is simple, stable and highly repeatable. The physiological properties of the mature maize pollen grains are first adjusted by using an in vitro germinating culture solution. This solution is 15% sucrose and contains 360 ppm calcium chloride dihydrate, and 120 ppm boric acid. One part fresh pollen grains is uniformly mixed with nine parts of the solution and left at room temperature for at least 5 hr. One part of this solution is then mixed with two parts of regular acetocannine stain and left overnight. The color of this mixture is pinkish red or raspberry. The sugar in the mixture helps to increase color contrast between the pollen cytoplasm (light pink) and the nuclei (reddish purple), decreases the frequency of burst pollen, increases pollen expansion, stabilizes pollen figures and automatically seals the coverglass.     

Sucrose and starch catabolism in the anther of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lilium</Emphasis> during its development: a comparative study among the anther wall,locular fluid and microspore/pollen fractions

In order to better understand the various pathways of sucrose and starch catabolism in the anther of lily (Lilium hybrida var. “Enchantment”), invertase (EC 3.2.1.26) and amylase (EC 3.2.1.1, EC 3.2.1.2) activities were measured separately in different fractions (anther wall, locular fluid and microspore/pollen) and correlated with the sugar content during anther development. Our findings showed significant differences among the fractions analyzed, suggesting that the regulation of sucrose and starch catabolism could follow distinct pathways in each fraction. Glucose and fructose amounts progressively decreased from anther wall to fluid and from fluid to microspore/pollen. Thus, the developing pollen could act as a sink for the carbohydrates that reach the anther. In this sense, cell wall-bound invertases seem to play a major role in soluble sugar partitioning in the different fractions of the anther. Sucrose concentration was found to be substantially higher in the locular fluid than in the other fractions, indicating a probable site for storage. On the other hand, the anther wall tissues could have a buffering function, storing nutrient surplus in starch grains and thus regulating the availability of soluble sugars in the whole anther. All these results proved the advantages of the experimental model proposed here, as well as its usefulness to investigate sugar metabolism in Lilium anthers.