Abnormalities Occurring during Female Gametophyte Development Result in the Diversity of Abnormal Embryo Sacs and Leads to Abnormal Fertilization in indicaljaponica Hybrids in Rice

Embryo sac abortion is one of the major masons for sterility in indicaljaponica hybrids In rice. To clarify the causal mechanism of embryo sac abortion, we studied the female gametophyte development in two indicaljaponica hybrids via an eosin B staining procedure for embryo sac scanning using confocal laser scanning microscope. Different types of abnormalities occurred during megasporogenesis and megagamatogenesis were demonstrated. The earliest abnormality was observed in the megasporocyte. A lot of the chalazal-most megaspores were degenerated before the mono-nucleate embryo sac stage. Disordered positioning of nucleus and abnormal nucallus tissue were characteristics of the abnormal female gametes from the mono-nucleate to four-nucleate embryo sac stages. The abnormalities that occurred from the early stage of the eight-nucleate embryo sac development to the mature embryo sac stage were characterized by smaller sizes and wrinkled antipodals. Asynchronous nuclear migration, abnormal positioning of nucleus, and degeneration of egg apparatus were also found at the eight-nucleate embryo sac stage. The abnormalities that occurred during female gametophyte development resulted in five major types of abnormal embryo sacs. These abnormal embryo sacs led to abnormal fertilization. Hand pollination using normal pollens on the spikelets during anthesis showed that normal pollens could not exclude the effect of abnormal embryo sac on seed setting.     

利用激光扫描共聚焦显微术对同源四倍体水稻胚囊形成与发育的进一步观察

应用改进的整体染色透明激光扫描共聚焦显微术(WCLSM),对同源四倍体水稻PDER-2B-4x胚囊的形成与发育过程进行观察。发现其胚囊的形成发育过程与二倍体的一致,可以清楚地划分为8个发育时期,即孢原细胞形成期、大孢子母细胞形成期、大孢子母细胞减数分裂期、功能大孢子形成期、单核胚囊形成期、胚囊有丝分裂期、八核胚囊发育期和成熟胚囊期。除正常发育的过程外,大孢子发育的各个过程均出现一些异常现象,包括:细胞退化、核位置异常、核数目异常和细胞分化异常等。这些异常可能最终导致多种结构异常成熟胚囊的形成。     

EFFECTS OF SPACE FLIGHT (BIOSATELLITE II) AND RADIATION ON FEMALE GAMETOPHYTE DEVELOPMENT IN TRADESCANTIA

The mode of female gametophyte development and the cytological effects of orbital flight factors, with and without radiation, on embryo sac development were studied in Tradescantia clone 02 flown in Biosatellite II. One package of 32 rooted inflorescences was exposed during the free-flight phase of the two-day orbital flight to about 220 R gamma radiation from an ⁸⁵Sr source, and a nonirradiated package was flown as a flight control. Two similar packages, one irradiated and one unirradiated, were maintained in a ground-based vehicle as concurrent nonflight controls. Various postflight ground experiments were conducted in an attempt to associate with specific flight factors the effects observed in the orbited plants. Mature ovaries were fixed daily as the flowers opened for at least 20 days after the treatment, sectioned, stained, and analyzed for the rate of embryo sac abortion and other developmental abnormalities. The embryo sac in Tradescantia clone 02 is eight-nucleate with a Polygonum type of development. Irradiation during megasporogenesis produced an increased rate of embryo sac abortion and this radiation effect was greater in the environment of the flight vehicle than in the nonflight vehicle. This effect may be due to an increase in concentration of ethylene in the flight vehicle. A synergism between some undetermined flight factor and radiation was found to produce underdeveloped embryo sacs. Malfunctioning of the spindle, most probably due to free flight, was evidenced by the increased number of embryo sacs with misoriented nuclei.     

Embryo Sac Development in the Maize indeterminate gametophyte1 Mutant: Abnormal Nuclear Behavior and Defective Microtubule Organization

The indeterminate gametophyte1 mutation in maize has been known to disrupt development of the female gametophyte. Mutant embryo sacs have abnormal numbers and behavior of micropylar and central cell nuclei, which result in polyembryony and elevated ploidy levels in the endosperm of developing kernels. In this study, we confirm abnormal nuclear behavior and present novel findings. In contrast to the normal form, there is no obvious polarity in two-nucleate embryo sacs or in the micropylar cells of eight-nucleate embryo sacs. We show that the second and third mitoses are not fully synchronized and that additional mitoses can occur in all of the nuclei of the mutant embryo sac or in just the micropylar or central regions. After cellularization, individual micropylar cells can undergo mitosis. Abnormal microtubular behavior results in irregular positioning of the nuclei, asynchronous microtubular patterns in different pairs of nuclei, and abnormal phragmoplasts after the third mitotic division. These results indicate that in addition to acting primarily in controlling nuclear divisions, the indeterminate gametophyte1 gene acts secondarily in regulating microtubule behavior. This cytoskeletal activity most likely controls the polarization and nuclear migration underlying the formation and fate of the cells of the normal embryo sac.     

Nuclear behavior is defective in the maize (Zea mays L.) lethal ovule2 female gametophyte

It has long been known that the maize lethal ovule2 mutation results in ovule abortion but has a much smaller effect on pollen development or function. The behavior of the nuclei, the microtubular cytoskeleton and other events were examined in normal and lo2 mutant female gametophytes in order to obtain an understanding the role of this gene in embryo sac formation. The effect of the lo2 mutation is manifested following meiosis. When the surviving single megaspore carries the mutant lo2 allele, often both the megaspore and its nucleus greatly enlarge, but the nucleus either fails to divide or divides only once or twice. Micronuclei are frequently present, nuclei are often clustered and the abundance and patterns of microtubules are abnormal in the mutant embryo sacs. The mutant female gametophytes are blocked at the one-, two- or four-nucleate stage. Nearly all the embryo sacs containing the lo2 allele fail to function as evidenced by the failure of transmission of closely linked loci. When mutant female gametophyte development is arrested, the immature embryo sac degenerates. This mutation appears to identify a gene that is essential in the female gametophyte for normal nuclear division and migration and the normal accompanying tubulin cytoskeleton behavior.     

水稻亚种间杂种小穗败育的细胞学基础

本文对普通栽培稻不同品种类型间杂种小穗败育的细胞学基础及雌性败育的过程进行了研究,结果表明:(1)引起杂种小穗败育的原因有胚囊败育、花粉败育、开花时花药不开裂和雌雄异熟。其中胚囊败育而丧失受精能力是引起低结实率的最重要的因素,开花时花药不开裂和雌雄异熟在一定程度上形成了雌雄性细胞时间和空间的隔离屏障。(2)杂种植株的所有大孢子母细胞都能进行正常的减数分裂,形成四个大孢子,败育主要发生在靠近合点端的功能大孢子分化形成胚囊的早期,有的功能大孢子在进行第一次有丝分裂前便萎缩解体,多数走向败育的功能大孢子能完成一次或二次有丝分裂,形成二核或四核败育胚囊。败育的共同特征是无液泡的分化,细胞质少或退化,在败育胚囊残迹部位,解体的珠心细胞和萎缩的胚囊残渍混杂垛叠。已受精的杂种子房没有观察到胚及胚乳发育的异常。籼粳杂种胚囊败育频率较高。     

The indeterminate gametophyte1 gene of maize encodes a LOB domain protein required for embryo Sac and leaf development

Angiosperm embryo sac development begins with a phase of free nuclear division followed by cellularization and differentiation of cell types. The indeterminate gametophyte1 (ig1) gene of maize (Zea mays) restricts the proliferative phase of female gametophyte development. ig1 mutant female gametophytes have a prolonged phase of free nuclear divisions leading to a variety of embryo sac abnormalities, including extra egg cells, extra polar nuclei, and extra synergids. Positional cloning of ig1 was performed based on the genome sequence of the orthologous region in rice. ig1 encodes a LATERAL ORGAN BOUNDARIES domain protein with high similarity to ASYMMETRIC LEAVES2 of Arabidopsis thaliana. A second mutant allele of ig1 was identified in a noncomplementation screen using active Mutator transposable element lines. Homozygous ig1 mutants have abnormal leaf morphology as well as abnormal embryo sac development. Affected leaves have disrupted abaxial-adaxial polarity and fail to repress the expression of meristem-specific knotted-like homeobox (knox) genes in leaf primordia, causing a proliferative, stem cell identity to persist in these cells. Despite the superficial similarity of ig1-O leaves and embryo sacs, ectopic knox gene expression cannot be detected in ig1-O embryo sacs.     

广东高州普通野生稻生殖特性的研究Ⅱ.胚囊育性、胚囊发育、胚胎发生和胚乳发育

利用整体染色激光扫描共聚焦显微镜术（WCLSM）,对采自广东省高州市6个地点共141个编号的高州普通野生稻的成熟胚囊育性和胚囊形成发育特点等进行研究。结果表明,供试的绝大多数高州普通野生稻材料成熟胚囊均存在不同程度的育性异常现象,包括雌性生殖单位退化、极核位置异常、极核数目异常、胚囊退化等。这些异常结构的胚囊由于没有正常的卵细胞,不能正常受精,影响子粒结实。141个编号平均异常胚囊频率为11．11％,最高异常率为67．86％。高州普通野生稻胚囊发育过程与正常栽培稻一致,属寥型。对一些结实率偏低材料的研究,发现在胚囊发育过程的不同时期存在一些异常现象,包括功能大孢子退化,二至八核胚囊发育异常等。对柱头上的花粉量调查,发现观察的69个编号中,多数编号柱头上花粉量偏少。研究表明,花粉量偏少影响受精是导致结实率偏低的最主要原因之一。本文对导致结实率偏低的综合因素进行了讨论。     

The putative sensor histidine kinase CKI1 is involved in female gametophyte development in<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Arabidopsis</Emphasis>

Embryo sac formation is a fundamental step in sexual reproduction in plants. However, the key players involved in the development of the female gametophyte remain elusive. We present data indicating that a two-component sensor histidine kinase, CKI1, originally implicated in cytokinin perception, is required for completion of megagametogenesis in Arabidopsis. We isolated a loss-of-function mutation in CKI1 resulting from an insertion of the En-1 transposon into the CKI1 coding sequence. Genetic analysis revealed that the mutant allele, cki1-i, could not be transmitted through the female germ line. Confocal laser scanning microscopy identified a block in megagametogenesis, characterized by the abortion of the central vacuole in mutant embryo sacs, and degradation of the developing female gametophyte after completion of all mitotic divisions. The recovery of two independent stable alleles and one revertant wild-type allele resulting from En-1 excision confirmed unambiguously the causal link between the cki1-i mutation and the abnormal phenotype. In situ localization of CKI1 mRNA and histochemical analysis of stable transformants harboring the uidA gene under the control of CKI1 promoter revealed that expression of CKI1 starts at the very beginning of female gametophyte development, and continues until fertilization. This suggests that the developing embryo sac may remain sensitive to signals recognized by CKI1 throughout megagametogenesis. Furthermore, expression of the paternally transmitted CKI1 was detected early after fertilization. The results indicate a role for a two-component signaling system during female gametophyte development, and provide the first evidence that gametophytic expression of a sensor-like molecule is essential for specific processes during megagametogenesis.     

Abnormal Behavior of Nuclei and Microtubule (MT) Organizational Changes During Embryo Sac Development in the Poly-Egg Mutant,APⅣ of Rice

APⅣ is a rice mutant that develops poly-egg apparatus in its embryo sac. All the eggs that make up the poly-egg apparatus can be fertilized respectively resulting in the development of polyembryony. The routes taken in the development of polyembryony appear to fall mainly into three variant polygonum pattern types, designated as 5-2-1 , 5-3-0 and 6-2-0 types. Out of the embryo sacs of APⅣ studied about 50% exhibited variant polygonum type with associated abnormal nuclear behavior and microtubule organizational changes. Some of the major abnormal features shown by the three variant polygonum types were described and they included the following: For the 5-2-1 type At the beginning of the four-nucleate embryo sac development, one pair of nuclei became located to the micropylar end and the other pair to the chalazal end. As embryo sac further developed, long connecting microtubule (MT) bundles that existed between the two nuclei in the chalazal end play a role in the movement and positioning of that nucleus. As a result of the activities of these MT, one of the nuclei in the chalazal end moved to the micropylar end resulting in the micropylar end having three nuclei and the chalazal end only one. For the 5-3-0 type In the two-nucleate embryo sac of the 5-3-0 type, one nucleus remained at the micro-pylar end, while the other one became located near the central region. In the four-nucleate embryo sac, the pair of nuclei aligned in parallel to the micropylar-chalazal axis often having one of its nuclei relocated to the micropylar end as a result of associated MT activities. For the 6-2-0 type All the nuclei in the megaspore, two- and four-nucleate embryo sacs became located to the micropylar end. At the early stages of the eight-nucleate embryo sac development, the two nuclei in the central region of the embryo sac (originally at the micropylar end) became polar nuclei. All the other nuclei remained at the micropylar end were surrounded by reticulate MT. The relationship between abnormal behavior of nuclei and MT organi-zation in the development of rice embryo sac was discussed.     

Embryo sac development is affected in Petunia inflata plants transformed with an antisense gene encoding the extracellular domain of receptor kinase PRK1

 In a previous study of the function of a pollen-expressed receptor kinase of Petunia inflata, PRK1, it was found that transgenic plants carrying an antisense-PRK1 gene were unable to transmit the transgene through either the male or, unexpectedly, the female. In this report, the nature of this female phenotype was studied using one of the transgenic plants, ASRK-13. Electron and light microscopic examination of the embryo sac and seed development of ASRK-13 and a wild-type plant revealed that embryo sac development of approximately half of the ovules of ASRK-13 was abnormal. The development of the affected embryo sacs was arrested at the late stages of megagametogenesis. The majority of the affected embryo sacs completed three rounds of mitosis normally, but failed to progress through the maturation stages when cell expansion, nuclear migration, and differentiation take place. The remaining small number of abnormal embryo sacs were arrested at either the four- or eight-nucleate stages. The ovules containing the defective embryo sacs apparently failed to be fertilized, resulting in degeneration of half of the seeds produced by ASRK-13. RNA gel blot analysis suggests that the PRK1 gene is expressed in the ovary, albeit at a much lower level than in the anther. The possibility that the antisense PRK1 gene is responsible for the abnormal embryo sac development is discussed. Received: 25 April 1997 / Revision accepted: 25 June 1997     

水稻籼粳杂种雌性不育的细胞学初步观察(简报)

普通栽培稻籼粳亚种间杂种结实率低是开展亚种间杂交育种和杂种优势利用的主要障碍。这一障碍是杂种花粉和胚囊的不育性引起的。不育性曾经认为是两者染色体在结构上存在微小的差异所致,但F_1植株减数分     

New insights into the functional roles of reactive oxygen species during embryo sac development and fertilization in Arabidopsis thaliana

Previously considered as toxic by-products of aerobic metabolism, reactive oxygen species (ROS) are emerging as essential signaling molecules in eukaryotes. Recent evidence showed that maintenance of ROS homeostasis during female gametophyte development is crucial for embryo sac patterning and fertilization. Although ROS are exclusively detected in the central cell of mature embryo sacs, the study of mutants deficient in ROS homeostasis suggests that controlled oxidative bursts might take place earlier during gametophyte development. Also, a ROS burst that depends on pollination takes place inside the embryo sac. This oxidative response might be required for pollen tube growth arrest and for sperm cell release. In this mini-review, we will focus on new insights into the role of ROS during female gametophyte development and fertilization. Special focus will be made on the mitochondrial Mn-Superoxide dismutase (MSD1), which has been recently reported to be essential for maintaining ROS homeostasis during embryo sac formation.     

Male and female gamete abortions,and reduced affinity between the uniting gametes as the causes for sterility in an indica/japonica hybrid in rice

Hybrid sterility frequently occurs in crosses between indica and japonica subspecies of Asian cultivated rice. In this study, we investigated the cytological processes involved in formation and development of male and female gametes as well as their interactions in fertilization, using an indica/japonica hybrid in comparison with an indica/indica hybrid. It was found that more than 50% of the microspores generated in the indica/japonica hybrid could not develop into functional pollen. The abortion rate of microspores in the indica/japonica hybrid was much higher than that in the indica/indica hybrid. Abortive embryo sacs made up roughly 70% of the embryo sacs examined in the indica/japonica hybrid, which was also much higher than that detected in the indica/indica hybrid. Moreover, the amount of pollen adherence on stigmas of the indica variety upon hand-pollination with pollen from the japonica variety was much lower than the indica/indica pollination, and the number of pollen adhered on the stigmas by natural self-pollination was much greater in the indica/indica hybrid than in the indica/japonica hybrid. The indica/japonica hybrid also encountered difficulties in pollen tube growth after pollination, and the fertilization rate of the indica/japonica hybrid was much lower than that of the indica/indica hybrid. These results clearly illustrate the complexity of the mechanisms underlying inter-subspecific hybrid sterility in rice involving both pre- and post-zygotic reproductive isolation mechanisms.     

Anatomical Studies on the Effects of Boron on the Development of Stamen and Pistil of Rape(Bassica napus)

The effect of boron deficiency (0. 02 ppm of hot water soluble boron soil)on the development of floral organs of NY-8 (Brassica nalrus L. )was obvious. Some abnormal features were observed: pollen sac shrinkage, abnormal development of tapetum, abortion occurred from the stage of PMC to the unicellular pollen ,stigma exposed,poor development of papillae, arrested differentiation of some ovules and embryo sacs etc. The results suggest that the abortion of stamen and pistil in rape may be one of the reasons for yield decrease     

'京白梨'结实与雌雄配子体发育的解剖学研究

以‘京白梨’、‘鸭梨’、‘雪花梨’为材料,用石蜡切片技术对其雌雄配子体发育过程进行了观察研究,并对其花粉育性、自然授粉结实率进行统计分析。结果表明:(1)‘京白梨’自然授粉结实率和花粉发芽率明显低于‘鸭梨’和‘雪花梨’;(2)京白梨从小孢子母细胞形成到成熟花粉的各个发育阶段观察到未形成小孢子或形成后很快退化、花粉囊中的花粉极少、花粉发育阶段细胞发生退化等不同类型的雄性败育个体,而且在花粉成熟阶段有部分花药中的绒毡层细胞不发生退化,花粉难以散出造成雄性败育;(3)雌配子体在大孢子母细胞发育阶段发现不能形成大孢子和大孢子形成后退化或发育不良等多种发育异常的雌配子体败育类型,而且败育频率高达36.7%。研究表明,‘京白梨’雌、雄配子体在其形成发育过程中的各种异常使其不能正常受精,最终导致坐果低下。     

On the gametogenesis and early embryogenesis in some olive tree cultivars

A comparative embryological study on two Spanish cultivars and one growing in Bulgaria of Olea europaea was carried out. The embryo sac develops according to Allium (bisporic)-type. The critical phases during the development of male and female gametophyte that lead to sterility and abortiveness of the embryo sacs and ovules are reported. The embryogenesis follows the Asterad-type. The endosperm passes a free nuclear stage and later on becomes cellular.     

水稻雌性不育材料FS-1胚囊败育的细胞学观察

以水稻雌性不育材料FS-1为试验材料,采用石蜡连续切片技术对FS-1及其亲本藤坂5号幼穗发育中期的胚囊进行观察,结果表明(1)亲本的胚囊都能正常发育分化,成为功能健全的雌配子体,而FS-1的胚囊却普遍发生败育,在胚囊原来的区域充满了胚囊残迹和解体的珠心细胞.(2)败育基本上发生在功能大孢子发生期,近合点端的大孢子和珠孔端的三个大孢子都发生解体,实验中未发现二核、四核或八核的败育胚囊,我们初步认为,FS-1胚囊败育发生在功能大孢子发生期.     

水稻雌性不育材料FS－1胚囊败育的细胞学观察

以水稻雌性不育材料FS－1为试验材料,采用石蜡连续切片技术对FS－1及其亲本藤坂5号幼穗发育中期的胚囊进行观察。结果表明：（1）亲本的胚囊都能正常发育分化,成为功能健全的雌配子体,而FS－1的胚囊却普通发生败育,在胚囊原来的区域充满了胚囊残迹和解体的珠心细胞。（2）败育基本上发生在功能大孢子发生期,近合点端的大孢子和珠孔端的三个大孢子都发生解体,实验中未发现二核,四核或八核的败育胚囊,我们初步认为,FS－1胚囊败育发生在功能大孢发生期。     

The NOMEGA gene required for female gametophyte development encodes the putative APC6/CDC16 component of the Anaphase Promoting Complex in Arabidopsis

Development of the female gametophyte involves several rounds of nuclear divisions during which nuclei are rearranged and finally cellularized to form a mature seven-celled embryo sac. During these nuclear divisions, key proteins involved in the cell cycle need to be degraded quickly in order to facilitate both the metaphase-anaphase transition stage and late anaphase. Here, we report the characterization of an Arabidopsis mutant nomega, which results in arrest of the embryo sac development at the two-nucleate stage. The NOMEGA gene product shows high homology to the APC6/cell division cycle (CDC)16 subunit of the Anaphase Promoting Complex/Cyclosome (APC/C). The phenotype of the nomega mutant is quite different from that of the hobbit mutant, which had suggested a role for the plant APC/C in auxin signalling. We show that nomega mutant embryo sacs are unable to degrade Cyclin B, an important APC/C substrate, providing further evidence of a role for the NOMEGA gene product and the plant APC/C in cell cycle progression during gametophyte development.