高山植物全缘叶绿绒蒿在不同海拔地区的传粉生态学研究北大核心CSCD

为了探明高山植物全缘叶绿绒蒿(Meconopsis integrifolia)的繁育系统特点和其对高山气候环境的繁殖适应特征,我们沿海拔梯度选择了5个样地(样地1(4 452 m)、样地2(4 215 m)、样地3(4 081 m)、样地4(3 841 m)、样地5(3 681 m))对其传粉生态学进行了连续2年的观察试验。结果发现,样地1、2的全缘叶绿绒蒿的单花寿命显著长于样地3、4和5。花开放早期柱头高于花药,之后花药不断伸长,并在开放中后期与柱头接触,说明全缘叶绿绒蒿具有不完全雌雄异位的花部特征。自然状态下,柱头可授能力持续期约8天(雌蕊先熟),但花药于开花第5天才散粉,花粉寿命约2天,说明全缘叶绿绒蒿为雌雄异熟,但存在一定的重叠期。人工授粉试验表明,全缘叶绿绒蒿自交部分亲和,且不存在无融合生殖现象。各样地中自然对照的结实率显著低于人工异交处理的结实率,说明自然状态下全缘叶绿绒蒿存在一定程度的传粉限制。传粉昆虫观察发现,样地1和2的传粉昆虫主要是蝇类,样地3、4和5的传粉昆虫主要是蝇类和蓟马(Thripidae spp.),蝇类在不同植株间的活动能够保证异花传粉结实,同时,蝇类和蓟马在花内的活动会引起"协助自交"。全缘叶绿绒蒿约65%的观察个体存在"自动自交"。蝇类在各样地的访花频率存在显著差异,样地1访花频率最低,样地2访花频率最高。各样地的结实由于异花传粉者的不足而受到传粉限制。两种不同类型的自交机制恰恰为该植物异花传粉者不足提供了一定程度的繁殖补偿。全缘叶绿绒蒿不分泌花蜜,当环境温度降低时,采取为昆虫提供保温庇护场所的方式来吸引传粉者。     

高山植物全缘叶绿绒蒿在不同海拔地区的传粉生态学研究

为了探明高山植物全缘叶绿绒蒿(Meconopsis integrifolia)的繁育系统特点和其对高山气候环境的繁殖适应特征, 我们沿海拔梯度选择了5个样地(样地1 (4452 m)、样地2 (4215 m)、样地3 (4081 m)、样地4 (3841 m)、样地5 (3681 m))对其传粉生态学进行了连续2年的观察试验。结果发现, 样地1、2的全缘叶绿绒蒿的单花寿命显著长于样地3、4和5。花开放早期柱头高于花药, 之后花药不断伸长, 并在开放中后期与柱头接触, 说明全缘叶绿绒蒿具有不完全雌雄异位的花部特征。自然状态下, 柱头可授能力持续期约8天(雌蕊先熟), 但花药于开花第5天才散粉, 花粉寿命约2天, 说明全缘叶绿绒蒿为雌雄异熟, 但存在一定的重叠期。人工授粉试验表明, 全缘叶绿绒蒿自交部分亲和, 且不存在无融合生殖现象。各样地中自然对照的结实率显著低于人工异交处理的结实率, 说明自然状态下全缘叶绿绒蒿存在一定程度的传粉限制。传粉昆虫观察发现, 样地1和2的传粉昆虫主要是蝇类, 样地3、4和5的传粉昆虫主要是蝇类和蓟马(Thripidae spp.), 蝇类在不同植株间的活动能够保证异花传粉结实, 同时, 蝇类和蓟马在花内的活动会引起“协助自交”。全缘叶绿绒蒿约65%的观察个体存在“自动自交”。蝇类在各样地的访花频率存在显著差异, 样地1访花频率最低, 样地2访花频率最高。各样地的结实由于异花传粉者的不足而受到传粉限制。两种不同类型的自交机制恰恰为该植物异花传粉者不足提供了一定程度的繁殖补偿。全缘叶绿绒蒿不分泌花蜜, 当环境温度降低时, 采取为昆虫提供保温庇护场所的方式来吸引传粉者。     

青藏高原高寒草甸罂粟科植物种子萌发特性研究

对9种罂粟科植物种子在5个温度(5℃、10℃、15℃、20℃、25℃)下的萌发特性进行了研究.结果显示:(1)采自低海拔的小果博落回、秃疮花和白屈菜在15～25℃的萌发率高于5～10℃;采自高海拔的全缘叶绿绒蒿和多刺绿绒蒿达到最大萌发率的温度分别为5℃和10℃;而采自高海拔的红花绿绒蒿和五脉绿绒蒿只有通过5℃冷处理后才能萌发,表明种子的最佳萌发温度与采集地海拔相关.(2)萌发速率随温度升高增大,秃疮花和苣叶秃疮花在25℃萌发速率最大,其余种25℃的萌发速率略小于20℃的萌发速率.(3)萌发时滞表现出随温度升高而缩短的趋势,秃疮花、白屈菜和苣叶秃疮花在25℃萌发时滞最短,其余种25℃萌发时滞又长于20℃萌发时滞.(4)一年生植物多刺绿绒蒿在所有温度下的萌发率和萌发速率均最高,而萌发时滞最短,这可能是一年生植物适应特殊环境的一种对策.     

海拔对全缘叶绿绒蒿植株性状和花特征的表型选择分析

为了研究海拔差异对植株性状、花特征表型选择的影响,以青藏高原高寒草甸的全缘叶绿绒蒿（Meconopsis integrifolia）为研究材料,于盛花期内,测定不同海拔（4 452、4 081和3 681 m）种群中个体植株性状、花特征、单果结实数并进行统计分析,采用线性回归模型估计不同海拔种群间植株性状、花特征所受的表型选择（选择差与选择梯度）。结果表明：（1）随着海拔升高,全缘叶绿绒蒿植株性状、花特征及单果结实数显著降低,海拔越高的种群中株高越矮、叶面积越小、花数越少、花越小、单果结实数越低。（2）不同海拔种群中各性状的表型选择存在差异,较低海拔（3 681 m）种群中花数、花大小具有显著的选择差和选择梯度,表现为花越多、花越大的个体雌性适合度越高;海拔较高（4 081 m）的种群中株高、叶面积及花数更容易受到选择,表现为植株越高、叶面积越大、花越多的个体雌性适合度越高;海拔最高（4 452 m）的种群中叶面积与花数的选择梯度接近显著。（3）植物性状分化伴随着海拔的变化而呈现出差异,较低海拔种群中花特征容易受到选择,而较高海拔种群中可能由于传粉者稀少、资源限制等因素使得株高、叶面积更容易受到选择。     

基于非靶代谢组学多刺绿绒蒿不同器官代谢物差异分析

为了进一步探究传统藏药植物多刺绿绒蒿（Meconopsis horridula）中代谢物成分以及不同器官差异情况,采用UPLC-MS技术对多刺绿绒蒿的叶、根和花三个不同器官代谢物进行分析与鉴定。并利用主成分分析（PCA）、聚类热图分析、正交偏最小二乘-判别分析（OPLS-DA）和KEGG通路富集分析等方法进行不同器官差异代谢产物筛选与通路分析。结果显示,在ESI⁺和ESI^-模式下,共检测注释到947种代谢物,不同器官间差异代谢物进行分析,叶和根差异代谢物有301个,叶和花中差异代谢物有170个,根和花中差异代谢物有244个。通过聚类热图可以看出,大多数代谢物在根中含量较低;KEGG通路富集分析显示,差异代谢物大多富集在氨基酸代谢、花青素生物合成、黄酮类生物合成和生物碱合成等代谢途径。各器官优势黄酮类、萜类和生物碱类代谢物的分析为进一步探究多刺绿绒蒿的不同器官药用特征成分和开发利用提供一定的帮助。     

四川阿坝不同生境绿绒蒿内生放线菌多样性

【背景】目前国内外对绿绒蒿内生放线菌的研究较为鲜见,利用可培养和免培养的方法可以丰富绿绒蒿内生放线菌资源。【目的】药用植物绿绒蒿生长于高海拔地区,而四川阿坝州生态环境适合绿绒蒿的生长,本研究旨在探究绿绒蒿内生放线菌的多样性及群落结构。【方法】从阿坝州6个不同地理位置采集的药用植物绿绒蒿,经严格的表面消毒后,用可培养和PCR-DGGE技术相结合的方法对其内生放线菌进行分析。【结果】可培养方法分析表明不同器官放线菌数量为根叶茎花;16S r DNA限制性内切酶片段长度多态性(RFLP)分析将供试菌株分为7个遗传群,系统发育分析表明,绿绒蒿内生放线菌可分为3簇遗传群落,链霉菌属(Streptomyces)为优势菌群,占总数的50%,还包括北里孢菌属(Kitasatospora)和厄氏菌属(Oerskovia),其中茎分离的放线菌多样性最好。不同地理位置的绿绒蒿经过PCR-DGGE技术分析表明,采样点松潘尕力台的根、茎、叶多样性指数最好,红原安曲乡的花多样性指数最好,而同一地理位置绿绒蒿内部组织之间总体来看茎和花的多样性指数最好,通过测序条带系统发育发现绿绒蒿内生放线菌可分为8簇遗传群落,红球菌属(Rhodococcus)为优势菌群,占总数的70%,还包括棒杆菌属(Corynebacterium)、诺卡氏菌属(Nocardia)、微球菌属(Micrococcus)、栖霉菌属(Mycetocola)、微杆菌属(Microbacterium)、假诺卡氏菌属(Pseudonocardia)和链霉菌属(Streptomyces)。【结论】绿绒蒿根、茎、叶、花组织中具有丰富的多样性,能够为以后活性物质和药用功效的研究奠定基础。     

外源水杨酸对总状绿绒蒿种子萌发及生理特性的影响

以总状绿绒蒿（Meconopsis racemosa Maxim.）为实验材料,通过不同浓度水杨酸（SA）浸种处理,研究了SA在不同温度条件下对总状绿绒蒿种子萌发质量和相关生理特性的影响。结果表明,在5~30℃条件下,对总状绿绒蒿种子萌发都有不同程度影响,但在15~25℃条件下,萌发效果比较显著（P<0.05）,其中20℃萌发效果极为显著（P<0.01）;0.1~1.0 mmol·L^-1 SA浸种预处理明显促进了总状绿绒蒿种子的萌发,其萌发指数、发芽势、萌发率在0.1~0.7 mmol·L^-1 SA范围内呈显著增长趋势,其中0.7 mmol·L^-1 SA处理效果极为显著（P<0.01）;（3） SA浸种后总状绿绒蒿种子内可溶性蛋白质和脯氨酸含量的变化同种子的萌发和生长呈相似趋势,用0.7 mmol·L^-1 SA处理后,种子内可溶性蛋白质和脯氨酸的含量达到最高。通过SA浸种可以提高总状绿绒蒿种子的萌发率;并且SA在高温和低温条件下对其萌发有一定的缓解作用。     

高山植物花形态特征对花温度积累的影响

高山生态系统的低温环境不利于植物繁殖器官的发育和传粉过程,因此能改善花内或花序温度的结构对植物繁殖具有积极意义。该研究利用红外测温仪测量了高寒草甸中64种植物的花温度和叶温度以计算花温度积累,并检测了系统发育、花大小、花对称方式和花大小对花温度积累的影响。结果表明:所测量的64种植物种类,花部温度均高于叶部温度。花温度积累的系统发育信号较弱,表明物种间花温度积累的差异可能主要与不同物种对温度的需求有关。花温度积累与花大小存在显著的正相关关系,且两侧对称花的温度积累比辐射对称花更为迅速,但花对称方式和花颜色对花温度积累并没有显著的影响。该研究结果表明花温度积累在不同植物间存在很大的差异,但这些差异对植物繁殖的实际贡献和意义仍需要进一步验证。     

藏药多刺绿绒蒿种子萌发特性研究

多刺绿绒蒿(Meconopsis horridula)为罂粟科绿绒蒿属一年生草本植物,是一种极具观赏价值和药用价值的高山植物,目前处于濒危状态,因此研究多刺绿绒蒿种子的萌发特性对其种子育苗及人工栽培具有重要意义。为了提高多刺绿绒蒿的种子发芽率,该研究以多刺绿绒蒿的种子为材料,分析了不同消毒剂、浸种时间、温度和外源植物激素对种子萌发特性的影响。结果表明:(1)最适消毒方法为75%乙醇1 min+3%H2O25 min,最适浸种时间为24 h,最适温度和光照条件为20℃/10℃(光照12 h/黑暗12 h),用无菌水浸种后的种子发芽率为49.67%。(2) GA_3100～600 mg·L~(-1)和NAA 5～30 mg·L~(-1)可以提高种子的发芽率、发芽势和发芽指数,缩短发芽启动时间和发芽持续时间,对种子的萌发有促进作用。(3) 6-BA 5 mg·L~(-1)和10 mg·L~(-1)对种子的萌发有一定的促进作用,但不显著,6-BA浓度≥15 mg·L~(-1)则抑制种子的萌发。(4)用GA3500 mg·L~(-1)浸种后的种子发芽指标最好,发芽率、发芽势和发芽指数分别为69.67%、33.00%、4.51,种子的发芽起始时间和发芽持续时间分别为10.67 d、11.67 d。     

克鲁兹王莲(睡莲科)的开花生物学研究

分别于2003和2004年8月在北京地区观察了户外种植的克鲁兹王莲(Victoria cruziana)花的生物学.结果显示:(1)克鲁兹王莲的花在连续2 d内开放和关闭,第1天花开放的时间为19:20;第2天于12:00~13:00完成关闭过程,第2天15:00~16:00花第2次开放,第3天早晨花关闭后沉入水下.(2)开花第1天晚上花内温度高出环境温度最高达11°C,开花的第2天以后,花内温度与水表面温度相近.(3)克鲁兹王莲的花第1次和第2次开放以及关闭过程中花器官呈现有规律的运动,第1天晚上花的开放过程可划分为4个时期,花的第1次关闭与第1次开放过程中花器官的运动不是简单的相反过程,第2次开放与第1次开放的过程也不相同.(4)首次描述了拟雄蕊、雄蕊以及伴生心皮(paracarpels)在开花和关闭过程中的活动规律;开花第1天晚上的柱头是湿润的,但并不像睡莲属(Nymphaea)植物那样积累1池粘液.(5)在北京地区,克鲁兹王莲自花受精能够产生种子.研究结果认为王莲属植物的花具有很多高度特化的特征以适应昆虫传粉.     

单瓣与重瓣垂丝海棠花器官形态发育比较观察

为探究垂丝海棠重瓣花成花原因,该研究以单瓣垂丝海棠和重瓣垂丝海棠为实验材料,应用体式显微镜和扫描电镜观察垂丝海棠单瓣、重瓣品种花器官分化过程;解剖观察重瓣垂丝海棠大蕾期的花与盛开的花,统计其花器官的形态与数目;应用R语言对重瓣垂丝海棠的花瓣数目与其余各轮花器官数目进行相关性分析。结果显示：(1)单瓣和重瓣垂丝海棠的花器官分化均分为萼片原基分化期、花瓣原基分化期、雄蕊原基分化期、雌蕊原基分化期,且各轮花器官按照向心顺序依次分化发育。(2)在花瓣原基分化期,单瓣垂丝海棠仅分化出一轮(5枚)均匀分布于两枚萼片交汇处的花瓣原基,而重瓣垂丝海棠分化出两轮分布散列的花瓣原基,第一轮为5~7枚,第二轮为7~10枚。(3)在重瓣垂丝海棠各轮花器官中存在较多萼片瓣化、雄蕊瓣化、雌雄蕊异常发育的情况。(4)重瓣垂丝海棠各轮花器官数目间相关性分析结果显示,其花瓣数目与雄蕊数目以及瓣化中的雄蕊数目间存在明显的正相关关系,该现象与常规雄蕊瓣化植物表现的雄蕊数目减少、花瓣数目增多的现象不同。研究表明,重瓣垂丝海棠花瓣数目的增多并不完全依赖于雄蕊变瓣,暗示垂丝海棠重瓣花成花原因的多元性与复杂性。     

蓝堇草属(毛茛科)花形态发生的扫描电子显微镜观察

花的发生和发育过程研究可以发现早期进化的轨迹,为系统发育的研究提供重要线索。蓝堇草属(Leptopyrum)为毛茛科唐松草亚科一单种属,仅包含蓝堇草一种,其花的发生和发育过程仍为空白。为了深入理解唐松草亚科乃至毛茛科花发育多样性和演化规律,该文运用扫描电子显微镜(SEM)观察了蓝堇草各轮花器官的形态发生和发育过程。结果表明:该属植物所有的萼片、花瓣、雄蕊和雌蕊均为螺旋状发生,花器官排列式样也为螺旋状; 5枚萼片原基宽阔,5枚花瓣原基圆球形、位于萼片原基的间隔,且在后期表现为延迟发育现象,雄蕊原基较小、为圆球形;花瓣原基和雄蕊原基连续发生,无明显的时空间隔,但与萼片原基有时空间隔;心皮原基为马蹄形对折,柱头组织由单细胞乳突组成;胚珠倒生、具单珠被。该属花器官螺旋状排列、胚珠具单珠被在唐松草亚科中是独有的性状,花发育形态学证据支持了该属的特殊性。     

宁夏枸杞(Lycium barbarum)花器官形态多样性与品系间识别研究

该研究以42份宁夏枸杞(Lycium barbarum)为材料,对其中5个品系来自3个不同采集日期样品的花部性状进行了观察,同时对宁夏枸杞42个品系的16项花器官形态学指标进行了测定,并采用组间单因素方差分析法、主成分分析法和聚类分析法对宁夏枸杞种内的花部形态差异进行了研究。结果表明:宁夏枸杞花器官性状差异较大且多样性丰富,组间单因素方差分析表明宁夏枸杞花部性状在不同时间内采集无显著差异,即宁夏枸杞的花器官形态具有一定稳定性,因此可选用花器官形态作为区分宁夏枸杞种内不同品系的鉴别指标;主成分分析表明有关花瓣外缘色泽、花瓣正-背面脉络、花瓣形状、花瓣背部色泽、花喉色泽、雌雄蕊位置6个花部性状的累积贡献率达到84.791%,在宁夏枸杞品系的分类中起到了主要作用;聚类分析表明在欧式距离为7.5处可将枸杞的42个品系分成五类,能够将宁夏枸杞进行区分。该研究筛选出了能反映宁夏枸杞花器官形态差异的6个主要指标,并将42份宁夏枸杞分为五类,初步建立了宁夏枸杞种内品系间的形态学鉴别方法,可为宁夏枸杞的形态学研究及品系鉴定等提供依据。     

The mutants compacta ?hnlich, Nitida and Grandiflora define developmental compartments and a compensation mechanism in floral development in Antirrhinum majus

In order to improve our understanding of floral size control we characterised three mutants of Antirrhinum majus with different macroscopic floral phenotypes. The recessive mutant compacta ?hnlich has smaller flowers affected mainly in petal lobe expansion, the dominant mutant Grandiflora has overall larger organs, whilst the semidominant mutation Nitida exhibits smaller flowers in a dose-dependent manner. We developed a cell map in order to establish the cellular phenotypes of the mutants. Changes in organ size were both organ- and region-specific. Nitida and compacta ?hnlich affected cell expansion in proximal and distal petal regions, respectively, suggesting differential regulation between petal lobe regions. Although petal size was smaller in compacta ?hnlich than in wild type, conical cells were significantly bigger, suggesting a compensation mechanism involved in petal development. Grandiflora had larger cells in petals and increased cell division in stamens and styles, suggesting a relationship between genes controlling organ size and organ identity. The level of ploidy in petals of Grandiflora and coan was found to be equivalent to wild type petals and leaves, ruling out an excess of growth via endoreduplication. We discuss our results in terms of current models about control of lateral organ size.     

NORMAL FLORAL ONTOGENY AND COOL TEMPERATURE-INDUCED ABERRANT FLORAL DEVELOPMENT IN GLYCINE MAX (FABACEAE)

Floral onset in soybean (Glycine max cv. Ransom) is characterized by precocious initiation of axillary meristems in the axils of the most recently initiated leaf primordium. During floral transition, leaf morphology changes from trifoliolate leaf with stipules, to a three-lobed bract, to an unlobed bract. Soybean flowers initiated at 26/22 C day/night temperatures are normal, papilionaceous, and pentamerous. Sepal, petal, and stamen whorls are initiated unidirectionally from the abaxial to adaxial side of the floral apex. The median sepal is located abaxially and the median petal adaxially on the meristem. The organogeny of ‘Ransom’ flowers was found to be: sepals, petals, outer stamens plus carpel, inner stamens; or, sepals, petals, carpel, outer stamens, inner stamens. The outer stamen whorl and the carpel show possible overlap in time of initiation. Equalization of organ size occurs only within the stamen whorls. The sepals retain distinction in size, and the petals exhibit an inverse size to age relationship. The keel petals postgenitally fuse along part of their abaxial margins; their bases, however, remain free. Soybean flowers initiated at cool day/night temperatures of 18/14 C exhibited abnormalities and intermediate organs in all whorls. The gynoecium consisted of one to ten carpels (usually three or four), and carpel connation varied. Fusion of keel petals was often lacking, and stamen filaments fused erratically. Multiple carpellate flowers developed into multiple pods that were separate or variously connate. Intermediate type organs had characteristics only of organs in adjacent whorls. These aberrant flowers demonstrate that the floral meristem of soybean is not fixed or limited in its developmental capabilities and that it has the potential to produce alternate morphological patterns.     

The composition and timing of flower odour emission by wild <Emphasis Type="Italic">Petunia axillaris</Emphasis> coincide with the antennal perception and nocturnal activity of the pollinator <Emphasis Type="Italic">Manduca sexta</Emphasis>

In the genus Petunia, distinct pollination syndromes may have evolved in association with bee-visitation (P. integrifolia spp.) or hawk moth-visitation (P. axillaris spp). We investigated the extent of congruence between floral fragrance and olfactory perception of the hawk moth Manduca sexta. Hawk moth pollinated P. axillaris releases high levels of several compounds compared to the bee-pollinated P. integrifolia that releases benzaldehyde almost exclusively. The three dominating compounds in P. axillaris were benzaldehyde, benzyl alcohol and methyl benzoate. In P. axillaris, benzenoids showed a circadian rhythm with an emission peak at night, which was absent from P. integrifolia. These characters were highly conserved among different P. axillaris subspecies and P. axillaris accessions, with some differences in fragrance composition. Electroantennogram (EAG) recordings using flower-blends of different wild Petunia species on female M. sexta antennae showed that P. axillaris odours elicited stronger responses than P. integrifolia odours. EAG responses were highest to the three dominating compounds in the P. axillaris flower odours. Further, EAG responses to odour-samples collected from P. axillaris flowers confirmed that odours collected at night evoked stronger responses from M. sexta than odours collected during the day. These results show that timing of odour emissions by P. axillaris is in tune with nocturnal hawk moth activity and that flower-volatile composition is adapted to the antennal perception of these pollinators.     

Ricochet pollination in Senna (Fabaceae) – petals deflect pollen jets and promote division of labour among flower structures

• Naturalists Fritz and Hermann Müller hypothesised that heteranthery often leads to a division of labour into ‘feeding’ and ‘pollinating’ stamens; the latter often being as long as the pistil so as to promote successful pollination on the bees’ back. In many buzz‐pollinated species of Senna, however, the so‐called pollinating stamens are short and not level with the stigma, raising the question of how pollen is shed on the bees’ back. Here we explore a mechanism called ‘ricochet pollination’. We test whether division of labour is achieved through the interaction between short lower stamens and strongly concave ‘deflector petals’.
• We studied the arrangement and morphology of the floral organs involved in the ricochet pollination, functioning of the flowers through artificial sonication and observed the interactions between bees and flowers in the field.
• The middle stamens are adapted to eject pollen downwards, which can be readily collected on the bee mid legs. Most of the pollen is ejected towards the deflector petal(s). Pollen from this set of stamens is more likely to contribute to pollination. The pollen grains seem to ricochet multiple times against the deflector petals to eventually reach the bee's back.
• The pollen ricochet mechanism promotes a division of labour by involving additional floral organs, such as petals, reinforcing the Müllers’ division‐of‐labour hypothesis. However, alternative, non‐multiexclusive hypotheses could be explored in genus Senna and other angiosperm species.

     

Pistil induction by hormones from callus of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Oryza sativa</Emphasis> in vitro

This study describes the successful formation of floral organ pistil from the callus of pistil explants of Oryza sativa L. For induction of floral organs, different explants—including young embryo, lemma, palea and pistil—were used for callus induction with different combinations of N⁶-benzyladenine and 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D). High frequencies of callus formation from pistil and young embryo explants were achieved. Floral organs were induced after calli from pistils were transferred to medium containing both zeatin and 2,4-D. The morphological characteristics of the pistil-like organs are very similar to those formed in planta though with minor differences. Further histological study revealed that the in vitro pistil contains an ovule within its ovary. Furthermore, a pistil-specific gene, OsMADS3 used as a molecular marker for pistil identity, was expressed in the pistil-like organs as it was in pistils in the flower of the plant.