Microspore culture of radish (Raphanus sativus L.): influence of genotype and culture conditions on embryogenesis

A number of factors influencing embryogenesis from isolated microspores of radish (Raphanus sativus) were examined. Of 11 genotypes evaluated, six produced embryos ranging from 8.3 embryos per 10⁵ microspores for Chugoku-ao to 0.2 for Tenshun, but five genotypes were not responsive. An initial culture period at elevated temperature before incubation at 25°C was essential for induction of microspore embryogenesis. However, the optimum period of the treatment varied among genotypes and/or experiments. Bud size also influenced microspore embryogenesis. Though optimum bud size was different between genotypes, the microspore populations represented in these buds contained uninucleate and binucleate microspores. Selection of embryogenic microspores using percoll density gradient resulted in up to 1.3-fold increase of embryo yield. Though almost all embryos failed to develop directly into plantlets, plants were obtained by multiple subcultures. The regenerated plants had hyperploid chromosome numbers.     

Embryogenesis and plant regeneration from isolated microspores of Brassica rapa L. ssp. Oleifera

Summary Conditions favourable to embryogenesis from isolated microspores of Brassica rapa L. ssp. oleifera (canola quality) were identified. A population with enhanced responsiveness for microspore embryogenesis (C200) was synthesized by crossing individual plants showing microspore embryogenic potential. For optimal microspore embryogenesis, buds (2–3mm in length, containing mid-late uninucieate microspores) were collected from older plants (2 months old) and microspores isolated and washed in iron-free B5 medium. NLN medium with its iron content reduced to half was beneficial for initial microspore culture. An elevated temperature(33–35°C) during the first day of culture, followed by maintenance at 25°C resulted in dozens of embryos from each isolation (about 100 buds). Seeds were obtained from plants regenerated from microsporederived embryos after colchicine treatment.     

The 35S-CaMV promoter is silent during early embryogenesis but activated during nonembryogenic sporophytic development in microspore culture

Summary The cauliflower mosaic virus 35S (35S-CaMV) promoter, which is generally used as a constitutive promoter in plants, is known to be silent during microspore and pollen development. Here we analyzed whether the 35S-CaMV promoter fused to thegus (-glucuronidase) gene can be used as a marker for early sporophytic development in embryogenic microspore cultures of tobacco andBrassica napus. In microspore culture ofB. napus, the 35S-CaMV promoter remained off from the start of embryogenic culture up to the mid-cotyledonary embryo stage. 35S-CaMV promoter activity was only present in those microspores that initiated sporophytic development, but failed to enter embryogenic development. Similar results were also obtained with shed-microspore cultures of tobacco, in which rapid, direct embryogenesis takes place. In isolated-microspore cultures, in which embryogenesis is delayed, an intermitting period of sporophytic development was observed, characterized by extensive 35S-CaMV promoter activity. Therefore, the 35S-CaMV promoter discriminates between two classes of sporophytic development: it is activated in microspores which change fate from gametophytic into (temporarily) nonembryogenic sporophytic development, whereas the promoter is silent in sporophytic microspores that enter embryogenic development directly. This mirrors our observation that the 35S-CaMV promoter is also silent in young zygotic embryos.     

NO, ROS, and cell death associated with caspase-like activity increase in stress-induced microspore embryogenesis of barley

Under specific stress treatments (cold, starvation), in vitro microspores can be induced to deviate from their gametophytic development and switch to embryogenesis, forming haploid embryos and homozygous breeding lines in a short period of time. The inductive stress produces reactive oxygen species (ROS) and nitric oxide (NO), signalling molecules mediating cellular responses, and cell death, modifying the embryogenic microspore response and therefore, the efficiency of the process. This work analysed cell death, caspase 3-like activity, and ROS and NO production (using fluorescence probes and confocal analysis) after inductive stress in barley microspore cultures and embryogenic suspension cultures, as an in vitro system which permitted easy handling for comparison. There was an increase in caspase 3-like activity and cell death after stress treatment in microspore and suspension cultures, while ROS increased in non-induced microspores and suspension cultures. Treatments of the cultures with a caspase 3 inhibitor, DEVD-CHO, significantly reduced the cell death percentages. Stress-treated embryogenic suspension cultures exhibited high NO signals and cell death, while treatment with S-nitrosoglutathione (NO donor) in control suspension cultures resulted in even higher cell death. In contrast, in microspore cultures, NO production was detected after stress, and, in the case of 4-day microspore cultures, in embryogenic microspores accompanying the initiation of cell divisions. Subsequent treatments of stress-treated microspore cultures with ROS and NO scavengers resulted in a decreasing cell death during the early stages, but later they produced a delay in embryo development as well as a decrease in the percentage of embryogenesis in microspores. Results showed that the ROS increase was involved in the stress-induced programmed cell death occurring at early stages in both non-induced microspores and embryogenic suspension cultures; whereas NO played a dual role after stress in the two in vitro systems, one involved in programmed cell death in embryogenic suspension cultures and the other in the initiation of cell division leading to embryogenesis in reprogrammed microspores.     

Scanning electron microscopy of microspore embryogenesis inBrassica spp.

Scanning electron microscopy was employed to study and compare microspore embryogenesis in vitro with pollen development in planta inBrassica napus andB. oleracea. An exine with its specific pattern had already been formed, when microspores were released from tetrads. During subsequent pollen development, microspores increased in size and continued to strengthen the exine. Upon in vitro culture, all microspores, i.e., embryogenic and nonembryogenic, initially showed the same morphological features. After 24 h in culture, the microspores had increased in size. Thereafter, embryogenesis was indicated in some microspores by two different morphological changes. One featured an expansion in volume of the cell cluster around the germination aperture (type I), the other showed cell cluster volume expansion over the entire microspore surface (type II). Two-thirds of embryogenic microspores in bothB. napus andB. oleracea demonstrated type I development. When followed by fluorescence microscopy, in vitro culture of microspores revealed cultures with a high embryo frequency were those with a high frequency of symmetrical division.Abbreviations SEM Scanning electron microscopy - TEM Transmission electron microscopy     

Identification of potentially embryogenic microspores in Brassica napus

Studies were undertaken with Brassica napus L. cv. Topas to identify buds containing microspores predisposed to embryogenesis in vitro and to investigate bud and microspore development in relation to this process. No significant correlation was found between the final embryo number and bud components. There appears to be a developmental window of less than 8 h duration during which microspores are very likely to form embryos: over 70% of the microspores can undergo division and up to 70% of these can form embryos. Embryos were mainly obtained from late uninuucleate to early binucleate microspores: the former contained mainly a G2 or M phase nucleus located at the microspore periphery and the latter a generative nucleus (associated with the intine) and a vegetative nucleus. Observations indicated that only the vegetative nucleus contributed to embryo formation. The first embryogenic division occurred between 8 and 16 h for uninucleate- and between 8 and 48 h for binucleate-derived embryos.     

Stress-induced microspore embryogenesis in tobacco: an optimized system for molecular studies

Summary Specific stress treatments applied to isolated tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) microspores efficiently induced haploid embryo formation in vitro. A heat shock at 33 or 37°C in the presence of sugar, as well as sucrose-starvation at 25°C, resulted in the formation of embryogenic microspores. A combination of both treatments had an additive effect. Under optimal induction conditions all viable microspores in the culture were embryogenic and developed subsequently into pollen embryos by culture at 25°C in a sugar-containing medium, with induction frequencies of more than 70% with respect to the initial microspore population. A high fraction of the early pollen embryos continued their development in vitro, giving rise to haploid plants. In contrast to other available systems for microspore/pollen embryogenesis, the new protocol allows the production of homogeneous populations of embryogenic microspores and early globular embryos in large-scale cultures, without any purification step, and is therefore well suited for biochemical and molecular work.Abbreviations EDTA ethylenediaminetetraacetate - DAPI 4,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole     

Effects of culture density,conditioned medium and feeder cultures on microspore embryogenesis in Brassica napus L. cv. Topas

Summary In microspore cultures of Brassica napus L. cv. Topas, embryo yield increases with culture density up to about 40,000 microspores per ml. A much higher density (100,000 per ml) appears inhibitory to embryogenesis. A relatively high culture density (30,000 or 40,000 per ml) for the first 2–4 days of culture is crucial for embryogenesis, after which cultures may be diluted to allow better embryo growth.Medium conditioned by culturing microspores at 30,000 or 40,000 per ml for 1 day improved microspore-embryo yield in low density cultures (3,000 or 4,000 per ml) more than 3-fold. In contrast, media conditioned with microspores from 1–4 days or 0–4 days of culture were inhibitory.Use of feeder cultures resulted in up to 10-fold increase of embryo yield in low density microspore cultures, depending on the method used. Filter papers and other membranes placed on top of feeders greatly inhibited embryogenesis in the feeder layer as well as microspores cultured on the feeder, possibly due to poorer gaseous exchange.     

Messenger-RNA and protein changes associated with induction ofBrassica microspore embryogenesis

Brassica napus L. microspores at the late uninucleate to early binucleate stage of development can be induced in vitro to alter their development from pollen to embryo formation. High temperatures or other stress treatments are required to initiate this redirection process. The critical period for induction of microspore embryogenesis is within the first 8 h of temperature-stress imposition. During this period, which precedes the first embryogenic nuclear division, the process regulating the induction and sustainment of microspore embryogenesis is activated. A number of mRNAs and proteins, some of them possibly heat-shock proteins, appear in microspores during the commitment phase of the induction process.Abbreviations SDS sodium dodecyl sulfate - PAGE polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis     

A co-culture system leads to the formation of microcalli derived from microspore protoplasts ofBrassica napus L. cv. Topas

Summary This paper describes a procedure in which protoplasts are obtained from microspores and pollen of rapeseed to induce callus formation aided by a feeder cell system with embryogenic microspores. Microspores at late unicellular stage and pollen at early bicellular stage were isolated and precultured for 24 h at 32 °C before enzymatic treatment. Eleven enzymes were tested in various combinations and concentrations. The optimal enzyme combination was 1.0% cellulase, 0.8% pectinase, 0.3% macerozyme, and 0.02% pectolyase, in which 26.3% of the microspores released protoplasts. A successful co-culture system was set up by employing embryogenic microspores as feeder cells. To this end, microspores were cultured in a medium with high osmotic pressure at 32 °C. Up to 37% of the microspores exhibited cell division and embryos developed to the heart-shape stage without changing medium. Microspore protoplasts were cultured in Millicells surrounded by the embryogenic microspores as feeder. In growth-regulator-free medium 14.5% of the protoplasts divided but only formed budding-like multicellular structures. Only after pretreatment with 4 mg of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid and 1 mg of naphthaleneacetic acid per liter protoplasts divided and formed microcalli. Pollen tubes or tubelike structures were not observed. The experiments reveal that selection of the specific developmental stage of microspores, which is a prerequisite for microspore embryogenesis, is also important in microspore protoplast culture. Compared to other methods used before, microculture fed with embryogenic microspores has obvious superiority.Abbreviations CPW basic protoplast washing medium according to Power and Chapman - CPW972 CPW basic medium supplemented with 9% mannitol and 7.2% sorbitol - DAPI 4,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole - NLN nutrient medium according to Lichter modified by Pechan and Keller - NLN13 NLN medium supplemented with 13% sucrose - NLNP NLN13 supplemented with 7.2% sorbitol     

Evaluation of Brassica rapa L. genotypes for microspore culture response and identification of a highly embryogenic line

Isolated microspore culture techniques are being widely used in Brassica breeding programs to generate haploid and doubled haploid plants. A number of factors influence regeneration response in vitro including genotype. In order to assess the effect of genotype on microspore embryogenesis in B. rapa L. var. oleifera, 17 cultivars and breeding lines were evaluated. Embryos developed from all but one genotype when using NLN medium with 17% sucrose, followed by a reduction in sucrose concentration to 10%, 48 h later. The number of embryos /100 buds differed between genotypes, ranging from 0 to 70. Further studies indicated that sucrose concentration and incubation time influenced embryogenesis. Selection studies carried out with an Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada breeding line have resulted in the identification of a highly embryogenic B. rapa line. This line produced thousands of microspore-derived embryos /100 buds and will be useful in mutant selection and gene transfer as well as biochemical and developmental studies.     

Modification of cell development in vitro: The effect of colchicine on anther and isolated microspore culture in Brassica napus

In an attempt to discover the biological basis of microspore derived embryogenesis, the effect of the antimicrotubule agent colchicine on anther and free microspore embryogenesis was investigated. The microtubule inhibitor colchicine promoted embryogenesis from cultured anthers, both with regard to the number of anthers responding and the number of embryos being produced per anther. A similar promotional response was also observed with cultured microspores. Although the parameters for cultured anthers and free microspores differed, administration of the drug for a short period immediately prior to pollen mitosis I seems to exert the maximum promotional effect. Of the five cultivars of Brassica napus studied, all responded to colchicine treatment. However, the drug did release more embryogenic potential in poor-responding varieties (i.e. Lirawell and Optima) than in the highest responding variety (Topas). Colchicine also resulted in increased embryogenic response in microspores cultured at lower temperatures.These results are considered in terms of models proposed to explain the switch in microspore development from a gametophytic to a sporophytic pathway. The use ofcolchicine as agent to promote embryogenesis in previously recalcitrant species other than Brassica is also discussed.     

The effect of ovary-conditioned medium on microspore embryogenesis in common wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Microspores were isolated from wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) spikes of various genotypes following an effective pretreatment that induced microspore embryogenesis. The isolated microspores were cultured with or without live ovaries, and with or without medium pre-conditioned by ovaries for varying periods of time. Live ovaries alone increased androgenic embryoid yields up to 4.5-fold over the control for microspores isolated from responsive genotypes. While live ovary co-culture alone was not effective for microspores isolated from recalcitrant genotypes, the addition of medium preconditioned by ovaries to microspore cultures increased embryoid yield by more than 100-fold. Without ovary-conditioned medium, no embryoids could be obtained from some recalcitrant genotypes. Ovary-conditioned medium apparently functions to increase embryoid yields by providing essential substance(s) for elaboration of the embryogenic program already triggered during pretreatment.     

Enhancement of microspore culture efficiency of recalcitrant barley genotypes

The culture response of isolated microspores of seven recalcitrant cultivars of barley has been largely improved by identifying an appropriate pretreatment and utilizing ovary co-cultivation. After comparison of three pretreatment media, medium B was shown to be most efficient for inducing microspore embryogenesis, while 0.3 M mannitol frequently used for the responsive cv. Igri was found to be ineffective for recalcitrant genotypes. A further significant improvement of embryogenesis was achieved by using ovary co-culture, which resulted in an overall 2.1-fold increase in embryo formation and 2.4-fold increase in green plant regeneration from all cultivars compared with the control. Optimal co-culture conditions were identified as 5 ovaries/ml medium kept over 20 days in induction culture. Microspore plating densities in cultures with and without co-culture were found to be optimal at 4᎒⁴/ml and 8-12᎒⁴/ml, respectively. The most effective and reproducible method for culturing microspores of recalcitrant genotypes appeared to be the combination of medium B pretreatment with ovary co-culture. By using this procedure, the genotypic difference in microspore embryogenesis could be reduced. It was found that medium B mainly enhanced percent live embryogenic microspores, and ovary co-culture subsequently improved cell division and embryogenic development. The method described here is important for the application of the microspore culture technique to barley breeding and biotechnology.     

Plant development from isolated microspores of Zea mays L.

This paper reports the development of plants from mechanically isolated microspores of corn (Zea mays). Large populations of corn microspores were isolated using technology previously developed for rapeseed. Embryos and callus were developed from microspores in the late uninucleate stage. Scutellar-type embryos developed after two weeks and these could be transferred and germinated on a hormone free medium. However, the large majority of plants recovered from embryos developed only upon transfer to a corn embryogenic callus medium. These embryos produced shoots through organogenesis, and subsequently could be induced to form roots. Plants were developed from these colonies and grown in the greenhouse. The frequency of mature plants developed from the embryos was approximately 5 %. Non embryogenic callus which developed from some microspores have thus far either failed to develop or have developed only roots. Seed set has been obtained on some of the regenerated plants.     

Morphological events in cultures of mechanically isolated maize mcirospores

Summary In tis androgenic response, maize is considered to be a recalcitrant plant. We used mechanically isolated microspores of maize genotype A18 to establish a responsive microspore culture of maize. Morphological events occurring during the first days of maize androgenesis in a microspore culture were observed and described, and some morphological markers for distinguishing between embryogenic microspores and nonembryogenic microspores were identified. It was found that the enlargement of microspores during the first days in culture and the ‘star-like’ organization of the cytoplasm inside the microspore are connected with reprogramming of the developmental pathway in maize microspores. Some differences were also found in the surface wall architecture of embryogenic microspores. Fertile plants were successfully recovered from microspore-originated structures.     

A high throughput <Emphasis Type="Italic">Brassica napus</Emphasis> microspore culture system: influence of percoll gradient separation and bud selection on embryogenesis

Microspore culture for the purpose of developing doubled haploid plants is routine for numerous plant species; however, the embryo yield is still very low compared with the total available microspore population. The ability to select and isolate highly embryogenic microspores would be desirable for high embryo yield in microspore culture. To maximize the efficiency of canola microspore culture, a combination of bud size selection and microspore fractionation using a Percoll gradient was followed. This approach has consistently given high embryo yields and uniform embryo development. Microspores isolated from buds 1.5 to 4.4 mm in length of Brassica napus genotypes Topas 4079, DH12075, Westar and 0025 formed embryos at different frequencies. The most embryogenic bud size range varied with each cultivar: Topas 4079 3.5–3.9 mm, DH12075 2.0–2.4 mm, and Westar and 0025 2.5–2.9 mm. When the microspores from 2.0 to 2.4 mm buds of DH12075 were carefully layered on top of a discontinuous Percoll gradient of 10, 20 and 40%, and subsequently spun through the Percoll layers by centrifugation, bands were formed containing populations of microspores of uniform developmental stage. The middle layer of the gradient contained the late uninucleate and early binucleate microspores that were the most embryogenic. In addition, the relationship between the bud size, developmental stage of isolated microspores, Percoll gradient concentration and the embryogenic frequency of each cultivar were studied. Optimization of these factors is required for each genotype evaluated.     

Hsp70 and Hsp90 change their expression and subcellular localization after microspore embryogenesis induction in Brassica napus L

A stress treatment of 32 degrees C for at least 8h was able to change the gametophytic program of the microspore, switching it to embryogenesis in Brassica napus, an interesting model for studying this process in vitro. After induction, some microspores started symmetric divisions and became haploid embryos after a few days, whereas other microspores, not sensitive to induction, followed their original gametophytic development. In this work the distribution and ultrastructural localization of two heat-shock proteins (Hsp70 and Hsp90) throughout key stages before and after embryogenesis induction were studied. Both Hsp proteins are rapidly induced, localizing in the nucleus and the cytoplasm. Immunogold labeling showed changes in the distribution patterns of these proteins, these changes being assessed by a quantitative analysis. Inside the nucleus, Hsp70 was found in association with RNP structures in the interchromatin region and in the nucleolus, whereas nuclear Hsp90 was mostly found in the interchromatin region. For Hsp70, the accumulation after the inductive treatment was accompanied by a reversible translocation from the cytoplasm to the nucleus, in both induced (embryogenic) and noninduced (gametophytic) microspores. However, the translocation was higher in embryogenic microspores, suggesting a possible additional role for Hsp70 in the switch to embryogenesis. In contrast, Hsp90 increase was similar in all microspores, occurring faster than for Hsp70 and suggesting a more specific role for Hsp90 in the stress response. Hsp70 and Hsp90 colocalized in clusters in the cytoplasm and the nucleus, but not in the nucleolus. Results indicated that stress proteins are involved in the process of microspore embryogenesis induction. The differential appearance and distribution of the two proteins and their association at specific stages have been determined between the two systems coexisting in the same culture: embryogenic development (induced cells) and development of gametes (noninduced cells).     

Efficient embryogenesis and regeneration in freshly isolated and cultured wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) microspores without stress pretreatment

The major advantage of doubled haploids in plant breeding is the immediate achievement of complete homozygosity. Desired genotypes are thus fixed in one generation, reducing time and cost for cultivar or inbred development. Among the different technologies to produce doubled haploids, microspore embryogenesis is by far the most common. It usually requires reprogramming of microspores by stress such as cold, heat, and starvation, followed by embryo development under stress-free conditions. We report here the development of a simple and efficient isolated microspore culture system for producing doubled haploid wheat plants in a wide spectrum of genotypes, in which embryogenic microspores and embryos are formed without any apparent stress treatment. Microspores were isolated from fresh spikes in a nutrient-free medium by stirring and cultured in medium A2 in the dark at 25°C. Once embryogenic microspores were formed, ovaries and phytohormones were added directly to the cultures without changing the medium. The cultures were incubated in the dark at 25–27°C until the formation of embryos and then the embryos were transferred to regeneration medium. The regeneration frequency and percentage of green plants increased significantly using this protocol compared to the shed microspore culture method.Communicated by W. Harwood