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 embryogenesis in anther cultures of Solanum carolinense L.

The direct differentiation of bicellular pollen grains of Solanum carolinense L. (Horse-nettle; Solanaceae) into embryoids and plantlets was induced by culturing whole anthers on Murashige and Skoog's medium supplemented with IAA. The highest frequency of embryogenic induction occurred at 10 mg/l IAA. Developmentally, both the generative and vegetative cells of the pollen grain contributed to embryoid formation whose pattern of development was similar to that of zygotic embryos. In a previous study, it was show that 2,4-D promoted callus formation by pollen grains in cultured anthers of S. carolinense. It appears then that there are two distinct pathways of androgenesis in this species that are determined by the type of auxin present in the medium.Abbreviations 2,4-D 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid - IAA indole-3-acetic acid - BA benzyladenine - KIN kinetin - MS Murashige and Skoog     

ORIGIN AND DEVELOPMENT OF POLLEN EMBRYOIDS AND POLLEN CALLUSES IN CULTURED ANTHER SEGMENTS OF HYOSCYAMUS NIGER (HENBANE)

The dedifferentiation of pollen grains of Hyoscyamus niger (henbane) into embryoids and calluses was examined by culturing identical segments of the same anther in a mineral salt-sucrose basal medium and in the basal medium supplemented with 2.0 mg/l 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, respectively. Addition of auxin enhanced anther efficiency but did not affect the number of embryogenic pollen grains of an anther segment transformed into calluses. In anther segments cultured in the basal medium, the organogenetic part of the pollen embryoid was formed by the division of the generative cell alone, or by the division of both generative and vegetative cells. More or less similar pathways were followed by pollen grains of anther segments cultured in a medium containing auxin to form calluses. Culture of anther segments in a medium containing a high concentration of auxin (50.0 mg/l) led to a significant reduction in the yield of calluses which were formed almost entirely by the division of both generative and vegetative cells. The bearing of these observations on the role of auxin in determining the pathway of differentiation of embryogenic pollen grains in cultured anther segments is considered. The appearance of embryogenic pollen grains in close proximity to the tapetum as seen in longitudinal sections of cultured anther segments has suggested a role for a gradient of tapetal factors in embryogenic induction.     

Origin of Multicellular Pollen and Pollen Embryos in Cultured Anthers of Pepper (Capsicum Annuum)

Anthers of Capsicum annuum L. were cultured on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium containing 0.1 mg l⁻¹ NAA and 0.1 mg l⁻¹ kinetin. Inoculated anthers were subjected to 31 °C and development of microspores in anthers of varying stages was observed cytologically using 4′-6-diamidino-2-phenylindol-2HCl (DAPI). Pepper was characterized by a strong asynchrony of pollen development within a single anther. Percentage of pollen at different stages changed with the culture period, and the proportion of dead pollen increased drastically from day 2 after culture. Microspores that were cultured at the late-uninucleate stage followed one of two developmental pathways. In the more common route, the first sporophytic division was asymmetric and produced what appeared to be a typical bicellular pollen. Embryogenic pollen was formed by repeated divisions of the vegetative nucleus. In the second pathway, which occurred in fewer microspores, the first division was symmetric and both nuclei divided repeatedly to form embryogenic pollen. In early-bicellular pollen, sporophytic pollen was produced through division of the vegetative nucleus. In mid-bicellular pollen, the generative nucleus may undergo division to produce two or more sperm-like nuclei. However, division of the generative nucleus alone to form the embryo was never observed. The anther stage optimal for embryo production contained a large proportion (>75%) of early-binucleate pollen. Associations were found among the percentage of early-binucleate pollen, the frequency of embryogenic multinucleate pollen, and the yield of pollen embryos.     

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.     

Experimental Researches on the Two Pathways of Pollen Development in Oryza sativa L.

The present paper deals with the experimental researches on the gametophytic and sporophytic pathways of pollen development in Oryza sativa L. Subsp. Keng, Cultivar Jinghong No. 2. Three methods of culture were used: (1) The lemma, palea and pistil of excised spikelets were removed and the pedicel was inserted vertically into the medium with the intact stamens standing freely above the medium surface (vertical culture). (2) The spikelets were manipulated similarly but placed horizontally on the medium so that their anthers were directly contacted with the latter ('horizontal culture'). (3) The anthers were excised and inoculated separately (anther culture). In all cases the pollen stage at inoculation was in late uninucleate. N6 basic medium supplemented with or without MCPA (2 ppm) was used. After inoculation the samples were collected periodically for cytological observation. In all cases the pollen passed a short stage of gametophytic development, forming a vegetative and a generative cell, then various pathways commenced in different cultures. In vertical culture, most of the pollen went on .along. the gametophytic pathway up to normal 3-celled stage, but some showed anomalous divisions of vegetative or/and generative nuclei, indicating an initiation of sporophytic development. In horizontal culture, the sporophytic deve]opment went on further, producing some calluses, though the main pollen population remained as gametophyte. In anther culture, the gametophytic pathway to a mature 3-celled pollen was blocked, the unique pathway being sporophytic. In rice, the pollen developed along sporophytic path- way mainly via A route. These comparative investigations indicate that there are two chief factors concerning the switch of pollen development from one pathway to another: first, to be freed from the in vivo restrictions, which, as suggested by Sunderland and as sup- ported by the results of vertical culture in our experiments, is sufficient to trigger the first sporophytic division, and second, 'direct contact with the medium, which is necessary to support the successive growth of multicellular grains and calluses. As to the exogenous hormone, rather than functioning as an agent triggering sporophytic development, it plays an important role in increasing eventual induction frequency, growth rates and differentiating ability of calluses.     

Microphotometric Determination of DNA Contents of Early Developmental Pollen Grains in Tobacco Anther Culture

The Feulgen-DNA contents of microspores, vegetative and generative nuclei of tobacco pollen grains in vivo and in anther culture have been determined by microphotometry. 1. The values of DNA content of vegetative and generative nuclei of the pollen grains selected at definite developmental stages vary between 1C and 2C levels, which coincide with the role of the dynamics of DNA in haploid cell cycle. This method applied in the study of androgenesis in anther culture is proved successful and valid. 2. By the cytomorphological investigation on androgenesis, the pollen embryoid in this experiment results from repeated divisions of the vegetative cell within the pollen grains. 3. In mature pollen grains of the same variety of tobacco in vivo, DNA replication has not occured in vegetative nuclei, in which the level of DNA remains in 1C. 4. In the cultured anthers after 8 days innoculation, 30% of the total pollen grains measured indicate that the vegetative nuclei have completed DNA replication and show 2C level. The pollen grains which have the potential to differentiate into the embryogenie pollen grains, may be distinguished from non-embryogenie ones by this method before any cytomorphological sign appears. The significance of this method in the study of the mechanism of androgenesis is discussed.     

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.     

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     

The Cytological Mechanism of Low Fertility in the Naked Seed Rice

The low fertility of naked seed rice (NSR) was investigated by the following observations: somatic chromosome constitute, behavior of pollen mother cells (PMCs), the germination of mature pollen grains, the development of male and female gametes and the structure of the anther opening. The results indicated that somatic chromosomal number was 2n = 24, behavior of PMCs were normal and most of pollen grains could regularly develop further to mature male gametophytes in NSR. And dehiscence chamber and thickened endothecium cell (TEC) in numerous anthers of the NSR were developed abnormally after dicaryotic phase, result in few anthers complete opening and most partly opening or failure to opening, therefore much fewer of pollen grains attach on the stigma as compared with normal variety. Furthermore most of embryo sacs possessed abnormal structure and were sterile. All of above illustrated that the failure of the anther opening and the abortion of female gametophyte were main factors controlling the low seed-setting rate of the NSR.     

Anther structure and pollen development in Melicoccus lepidopetalus (Sapindaceae): An evolutionary approach to dioecy in the family

Anther and pollen development in staminate and pistillate flowers of dioecious Melicoccus lepidopetalus (Sapindaceae) were examined by light and electron microscopy. Young anthers are similar in both types of flowers; they consist of epidermis, endothecium, two to four middle layers and a secretory tapetum. The microspore tetrads are tetrahedral. The mature anther in staminate flowers presents compressed epidermal cells and endothecium cells with fibrillar thickenings. A single locule is formed in the theca by dissolution of the septum and pollen grains are shed at two-celled stage. The mature anthers of pistillate flowers differ anatomically from those of staminate flowers. The epidermis is not compressed, the endothecium does not develop fibrillar thickenings, middle layers and tapetum are generally persisting, and the stomium is nonfunctional. Microspore degeneration begins after meiosis of microspore mother cells. At anthesis, uninucleate microspores and pollen grains with vegetative and generative nuclei with no cytokinesis are observed. Some pollen walls display an abnormal exine deposition, whereas others show a well formed exine, although both are devoid of intine. These results suggest that in the evolution towards unisexuality, the developmental differences of anther wall tissues and pollen grains between pistillate and staminate flowers might become more pronounced in a derived condition, such as dioecy.     

Effects of Physical and Chemical Factors on Induction Frequency of the Pollen Plantlet and Changes in Starch Formation in Anthers

Physical and chemical facttors affected distinctly induction frequency of the pollen plantlets from anther culture in vitro of Lycium. Experimental results showed that the anthers with their pollen grains at the uninucleate stage when the nuclei were centrally situated, were the best material for the anther culture. The different proportions of various hormones have affected the embryoid formation. When the MS medium was supplemented with 6-BAP (1 ppm) and NAA (0.1 ppm), the induction frequency was increased ( 16.9% ). When 3–15 per cent of sucrose was added in medium, the embryoids were induced and 15 per cent was the optimum. The callus of the filament was inhibited by the increase of the sucrose concentration. Before inoculation the anthers were pretreated at 3–5℃ for 4 days, the frequency of embryoid formation was efficiently increased in comparision with those of untreated anthers. The induction frequency of normal anthers was only 2.8 per cent, but that of the anthers pretreated was 3–9 per cent, the highest was 8.9 per cent .The changes of substances in anther pretreated and in normal anther was compared by means of histochemistry. Under normal conditions, there were a lot of starch accumulated in the inner wall Of the anthers and the distribution of the cytoplasm and the staining of the protein were even: In the anther pretreated, the starch grains have disappeared and the cytoplasm has condensed and the staining of the protein wasn't even. The differences may be related to induction, frequency of the anther culture.     

棉花洞A型核雄性不育系花药败育过程中的生化变化

研究了陆地棉洞A型核雄性不育系(抗A1,MA)不育和可育花药不同发育时期可溶性碳水化合物、游离氨基酸和IAA、GA3、ABA含量的动态变化。结果表明,不育花药中可溶性糖含量偏高,缺乏淀粉积累;有4种游离氨基酸含量在可育与不育花药问存在显著差异,其中不育花药天门冬氨酸含量偏高,这可能是其败育的原因之一,而脯氨酸、精氨酸、苯丙氨酸含量异常,则是不育花药败育的结果;在花药主要败育时期之前,不育花药中ABA含量极显著偏高,IAA、GA3含量极显著偏低。不育花药中IAA、GA3、ABA含量变化与洞A型核雄性不育系花药败育密切相关。     

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。     

矮牡丹小孢子发生和雄配子体发育及其与该种濒危的关系

研究了矮牡丹Paeonia jishanensis Hong et W．Z．Zhao的小孢子发生及雄配子体的形成。矮 牡丹花药具4个小孢子囊,药壁结构属双子叶型,腺质绒毡层,小孢子母细胞减数分裂后胞质分裂为 同时型,四分体多为四面体形,少左右对称形,成熟花粉为2-细胞。对芍药属木本类型的雄性发育进行 了全面研究,还对小孢子母细胞减数分裂和单核小孢子发育时期的异常现象进行了观察,对能育花粉 与不育花粉的百分比进行了测定,结果表明,能育花粉为45.03％～84.18％,它们在不同花中,不同花 药中,甚至同一花药的不同花粉囊中表现都不完全一致。联系矮牡丹的致濒原因进行了讨论,认为雄配子体形成过程中的异常现象,并不是导致矮牡丹濒危的主要因素。     

Anther culture of Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench

The sequence of pollen development from the tetrad stage to the mature tricellular grain was studied in freshly harvested anthers of Sorghum bicolor. This pattern of development was then compared with that occurring during panicle pretreatment and subsequent anther incubation in vitro. It was found that during pretreatment at 7° C mitoses of the vegetative cell were induced in up to 30% of the pollen. During anther incubation procallus development was highly polarised with contributions from both the generative and vegetative cells. After pretreatment at 14 or 20° C the generative cell became detached from the pollen wall and it was not possible to determine whether subsequent development involved only the vegetative cell or both the vegetative and generative cells.Although retarded pollen grains were observed both in vivo and in vitro, and were occasionally seen to divide in culture, they did not appear to be the source of the procalluses produced.     

DNA Synthesis in Microspores in Anther Culture of Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Anthers with mid-unlnucleate microspores were cultured on W5 medium supplemented with 0.5 mg/l kinetin, 2 mg/l 2,4-D and 9% or 3% sucrose. At a series of interval (0, 1, 1.5, 2, 14 days) after cultured, the anthers were labelled with 3H-thymidine (4 MCi/mi) for 24 h, fixed, and then performed autoradiography according to conventional method. Results show that after cultured for 24 h, 3H-thymidine was incorporated into some late-uninucleate microspores (see Plate I, 3), and after for 2.5 days, vegetative nuclei in pollen grains were la- belled (see Plate I, 4). Usually, vegetative nuclei were labelled frequently and generative ones were labelled rarely. Sometimes generative cell which could synthesis DNA might develop suspensor-like structure individually (see Plate I, 13). During early stage of development of a multicellular pollen grain, the DNA synthesis in the cells were synchronized. With pollen development, the synchronism of DNA synthesis was destroyed. When anthers cultured on medium with 3% sucrose, DNA in microspores could be synthesized normally, and the number of labelled microspores was more than that of anthers cultured on medium with 9% sucrose. However, on medium with 3% sucrose, the nuclei in microspores stopped dividing after one or two divisions and the cell wall of them could not be formed and multicellular pollen was not observed. It seems that the absence of multicellular pollen on medium with 3% sucrose was primarily due to the block of cell division and cell wall formation, not due to the interruption of DNA synthesis.     

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。     

In vitro development of plants from microspores of rice

Summary Rice (Oryza sativa L., 2n=24) anthers containing microspores in the early-uninucleate to first-mitosis stages were induced successfully to develop into plants in vitro through an intermediary step of callus formation. Callus initiation occurred with highest frequency in anthers containing mid-uninucleate microspores. The callus derived from different stages of microspore development differed in the potential to differentiate into plants. The plants regenerated from pollen callus were predominantly haploid or diploid; polyploid and aneuploid plants were relatively infrequent. The first division of the uninucleate microspores was asymmetrical, resulting in the formation of large vegetative and small generative nuclei. The vegetative nucleus divided repeatedly and assumed the major role in the formation of callus, whereas the generative nucleus degenerated rapidly. Simultaneous division of the two nuclei was observed in a few pollen grains. Nuclear fusion during the very initial stages of pollen development was postulated to account for the occurrence of the diploid and polyploid plants. This work was supported by the National Science Council, Republic of China.