水稻离体授粉的胚胎学研究

采用2个水稻（Oryza sativa L.)品种“春江05”（早粳）和“95046”（晚粳）,对离体授粉过程中的胚胎学进行了详细的研究。结果表明：（1）2个品种均胡离体授粉结实,平均结实率为52．1％,其中28．4％胚胎发育正常,2．2％胚胎发育异常,21．5％愈伤组织化;（2）离体授粉时的胚胎发育途径和体内自然发育基本相同,中是合子和初生胚乳核首次启动分裂及以后的发育均较延缓,但最终也能萌发成幼苗。（3）观察到具细长胚柄的原胚及液泡化原胚等异常的胚胎类型;（4）子房内形成的愈伤组织分为致密和松散两种类型,二均可化出不定芽和不定根,还对离体授粉的方法,离体授粉中正常和异常的胚胎发育途径进行了讨论。     

Maize in vitro pollination with single pollen grains

Fertilization of maize (inbred A188)_was achieved by placement of individual pollen grains on silks of cob segments cultured in vitro. Fertilization rates were highly variable, ranging from 0% to 75% following single grain pollination and from 10% to 100% following abundant pollination. This variability may indicate cryptic genetic variability within the A188 inbred or environmental variability. Whether the variability was due to heterogeneity of pollen source, ears, or both was not determined. Double fertilization, required to produce normal kernels with both embryo and endosperm, apparently failed in a small proportion of cases (2.6%). Such failure was as prevalent following single grain pollination as it was after abundant pollination.     

四倍体大燕麦与六倍体裸燕麦的受精作用和胚胎发育

用石蜡切片法,对四倍体大燕麦（Avena magna L.）和六倍体裸燕麦（Avena nuda L.）杂交的受精作用和胚胎发育进行了观察。结果表明,六倍体裸燕麦花偻在四倍体大燕麦柱头上萌发良好,花粉管可顺利长入花柱和胚囊,观察的168个四倍体大燕麦子房中,2.38%发生了双受精,产生了胚和胚乳;1.79%发生了单卵受精,只产生胚乳而无胚;总受精率为5.36%;成胚率为4.17%。由于胚乳的缺管或发育异常及败育,最终难以获得有生活力的种子,为四倍体大燕麦和六倍体裸燕麦杂交提供了细胞胚胎学证据。     

In vitro development of early proembryos and plant regeneration via microculture in Oryza sativa

Two convenient and efficient microculture techniques (liquid droplet and shallow-layered culture) were used to rear 2-day-old and 3 to 4 day-old proembryos in rice. Among four cultivars, growth rate and frequency of embryogenesis were higher in the japonica cultivars than in the indica cultivars during proembryo culture. Two-day-old proembryos could grow and form callus only in Km8p and N6 among four kinds of tested media, and plantlets regenerated via organogenesis. Plant regeneration from callus initiated from three- and four-day-old proembryos occurred through somatic embryogenesis and organogenesis. For in vitro embryogenesis it was essential to supplement the medium with 14 amino acids and coconut milk. The highest frequency of embryogenesis and the frequency of total induction after 14 days of culture were approximately 42% and 95% for 3-day-old proembryos, and 45% and 100% for 4-day-old proembryos, respectively. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Pseudogamous Apomixis in Maize and Sorghum in Diploid-Tetraploid Crosses

Apomictic seed development is a complex process including formation of unreduced embryo sac, parthenogenetic embryo development from the egg cell, and endosperm formation either autonomously, or due to fertilization of polar nuclei by the sperm (under pseudogamous form of apomixis). In the latter case, an obstacle to the normal endosperm development is disturbance of maternal (m) -to-paternal (p) genomic ratio 2m: 1p that occurs in the cases of pollination of unreduced embryo sac with haploid sperms. Usage of tetraploid pollinators can overcome this problem because in such crosses maternal-to-paternal genomic ratio is 4m: 2p that provides formation of kernels with plump endosperm. Using tetraploid lines as pollen parents we observed formation of plump kernels on the ears and panicles of diploid maize and sorghum accessions. These kernels had hybrid endosperm and diploid maternaltype embryo or hybrid embryo with different ploidy level (2n, 3n, 4n). The frequencies of plump kernels on the ear ranged from 0.2-0.3% to 5.7-6.2% counting from the number of ovaries. Maternal-type plants were found in two maize lines, their frequency varying from 10.7 to 37.5% of the progeny plants. In CMS-lines of sorghum pollinated with tetraploid sorghum accessions, the frequency of plump kernels ranged from 0.6 to 14.0% counting from the number of ovaries; the frequency of maternal-type plants varied from 33.0 up to 96.1%. The hybrid nature of endosperm of the kernels that gave rise to maternal-type plants has been proved by marker gene expression and by SDS-electrophoresis of endosperm proteins. These data testify to variable modes of seed formation under diploid × tetraploid crosses in maize and sorghum both by amphi- and by apomixis. Therefore, usage of tetraploid pollinators might be a promising approach for isolation of apomixis in maize and sorghum accessions.     

Phenotypic analysis and molecular cloning of discolored-1 (dsc1), a maize gene required for early kernel development

Recessive mutations in the maize dsc1 locus prevent normal kernel development. Solidification of the endosperm in homozygous dsc1– mutant kernels was undetectable 12 days after pollination, at which time the tissue was apparently completely solidified in wild-type kernels. At later times endosperm did solidify in homozygous dsc1– mutant kernels, but there was a marked reduction in the volume of the tissue. Embryo growth in homozygous dsc1– kernels was delayed compared to wild-type kernels, but proceeded to an apparently normal stage 1 in which the scutellum, coleoptile, and shoot apex were clearly defined. Embryo growth then ceased and the embryonic tissues degraded. Late in kernel development no tissue distinctions were obvious in dsc1– mutant embryos. Immature mutant embryos germinated when transplanted from kernels to tissue culture medium prior to embryonic degeneration, but only coleoptile proliferation was observed. The dsc1 gene was isolated by transposon tagging. Analysis of the two different dsc1– mutations confirmed that transposon insertion into the cloned genomic locus was responsible for the observed phenotype. Dsc1 mRNA was detected specifically in kernels 5–7 days after pollination. These data indicate Dsc1 function is required for progression of embryo development beyond a specific stage, and also is required for endosperm development.     

四倍体大燕麦与六倍体裸燕麦的受精作用和胚胎发育

用石蜡切片法,对四倍体大燕麦(Avena magna L.)和六倍体裸燕麦(Avena nuda L.)杂交的受精作用和胚胎发育进行了观察。结果表明,六倍体裸燕麦花粉在四倍体大燕麦柱头上萌发良好,花粉管可顺利长入花柱和胚囊。观察的168个四倍体大燕麦子房中,238%发生了双受精,产生了胚和胚乳;179%发生了单卵受精,只产生胚乳而无胚;总受精率为536%;成胚率为417%。由于胚乳的缺乏或发育异常及败育,最终难以获得有生活力的种子。为四倍体大燕麦和六倍体裸燕麦杂交提供了细胞胚胎学证据。     

硬粒小麦与珍珠栗远缘杂交的受精作用和胚胎发育

对硬粒小麦（ＴｒｉｔｉｃｕｎｄｕｒｕｍＤｅｓｆ．）和珍珠栗（Ｐｅｎｎｉｓｅｔｕｍｇｌａｕｃｕｍｓｙｎ．Ｐ．ａｍｅｒｉｃａｎｕｍ）远缘杂交的受精作用和胚胎发育进行了研究。对授粉后的１９２个硬粒小麦子房进行制片观察,７．８１％发生双受精,具胚和胚乳,但胚乳发育往往落后于胚的发育;３．１３％只发生了单卵受精,只产生胚而无胚乳;１．０４％发生了单极核受精,只产生胚乳而无胚。总受精率为１１．９８％,成胚率为１０．９４％。由于胚乳的缺乏或发育异常及败育,最终难以获得有生活力的种子     

硬粒小麦与珍珠栗远缘杂交的受精作用和胚胎发育

对硬粒小麦(Triticum durum Desf.)和珍珠栗(Pennisetum glaucum syn.P. americanum)远缘杂交的受精作用和胚胎发育进行了研究。对授粉后的192个硬粒小麦子房进行制片观察,7.81％发生双受精,具胚和胚乳,但胚乳发育往往落后于胚的发育;3.13％只发生了单卵受精,只产生胚而无胚乳;1.04％发生了单极核受精,只产生胚乳而无胚。总受精率为11.98％,成胚率为10.94％。由于胚乳的缺乏或发育异常及败育,最终难以获得有生活力的种子。     

In vitro pollination as a model for studying fertilization in maize (Zea mays L.)

Summary In vitro pollination was conducted using excised segments of maize female spikelets to determine the effects of age and silk length on fertilization efficiency and developmental pattern. Ovary development after 15 days resulted in: (1) normal kernels, (2) abnormal kernels and (3) enlarged ovaries; the percentages of each class varied with age. Evidence of double fertilization was observed in both normal and abnormal kernels. In vitro fertilization was traced using silk excision and autoradiography with ³²P-radiolabelled pollen and occurred between 4 and 7 h after the pollination of 4.5-cm-long silks. This study supports the validity of the in vitro pollination method for studying fertilization and emphasizes the importance of using a developmentally sensitive index (silk length) for establishing female developmental stage.     

Acetolactate Synthase Activity in Developing Maize (Zea mays L.) Kernels

Acetolactate synthase (EC 4.1.3.18) activity was examined in maize (Zea mays L.) endosperm and embryos as a function of kernel development. When assayed using unpurified homogenates, embryo acetolactate synthase activity appeared less sensitive to inhibition by leucine + valine and by the imidazolinone herbicide imazapyr than endosperm acetolactate synthase activity. Evidence is presented to show that pyruvate decarboxylase contributes to apparent acetolactate synthase activity in crude embryo extracts and a modification of the acetolactate synthase assay is proposed to correct for the presence of pyruvate decarboxylase in unpurified plant homogenates. Endosperm acetolactate synthase activity increased rapidly during early kernel development, reaching a maximum of 3 micromoles acetoin per hour per endosperm at 25 days after pollination. In contrast, embryo activity was low in young kernels and steadily increased throughout development to a maximum activity of 0.24 micromole per hour per embryo by 45 days after pollination. The sensitivity of both endosperm and embryo acetolactate synthase activities to feedback inhibition by leucine + valine did not change during kernel development. The results are compared to those found for other enzymes of nitrogen metabolism and discussed with respect to the potential roles of the embryo and endosperm in providing amino acids for storage protein synthesis.     

Genotype effects of Brassica napus on its reproductive behavior after pollination with B. juncea

To investigate the cause of variation in the interspecific crossability of Brassica napus, three different genotypes were studied in respect of their reproductive behavior after pollination with B. juncea. There were great differences among maternal genotypes in allowing foreign pollen to germinate on and penetrate into their stigmas, leading to a wide diversity of interspecific fertilization. The division of the hybrid primary endosperm nucleus and zygote appeared normal in all combinations of crosses. While the abundant free nuclei of the endosperm developed properly and never became cellular, the embryos degenerated as early as 10 days after pollination when the cultivar Rucabo, which had the highest fertilization record with species of B. juncea, was involved. When 81007 was used as female parent, the endosperm grew a little but the embryo halted at the heart-torpedo stage. Lack of nourishment might be responsible for the observed embryo abortion. Among the sic hybrid combinations, the cross 84014A x Changyang hunagjie was the only one where endosperm tissue was observable and an abnormal embryo occurred prior to cellular endosperm formation. Apart from the three typical embryological features, significant variation was also demonstrated among each of the cross combinations. Genetic diversity appears to exist not only between varieties, but also within cultivars. In addition, methods for developing interspecific crossable lines are discussed.     

Genetic manipulation of lysine catabolism in maize kernels

In plants, lysine catabolism is thought to be controlled by a bifunctional enzyme, lysine ketoglutarate reductase/saccharopine dehydrogenase (LKR/SDH). Lysine is converted to saccharopine, through condensation with alpha-ketoglutarate, by LKR, and subsequently to glutamate and alpha-aminoadipate-delta-semialdehyde by SDH. To investigate lysine catabolism in maize kernels, we generated transgenic plants with suppressed LKR/SDH activity in either endosperm or embryo. We found that the suppression of LKR/SDH in endosperm induced an increase in free lysine in developing endosperm, which peaked at 32 days after pollination. At later stages of kernel development, most of the free lysine was found in the embryo along with an elevated level of saccharopine. By combining endosperm LKR/SDH suppression with embryo LKR/SDH suppression through crosses, the saccharopine level in embryo was reduced and resulted in higher lysine accumulation in mature kernels. These results reveal new insights into how free lysine level is regulated and distributed in developing maize kernels and demonstrate the possibility of engineering high lysine corn via the suppression of lysine catabolism.     

ADVENTIVE EMBRYOGENESIS IN CITRUS I. THE OCCURRENCE OF ADVENTIVE EMBRYOS WITHOUT POLLINATION OR FERTILIZATION

Anatomical studies of unfertilized undeveloped seeds from open- and control-pollinated fruits of ten facultative apomictic Citrus cultivars were carried out with the aid of light and epifluorescence microscopes. With or without pollination, adventive embryos autonomously developed at all positions in the nucellus in all cultivars. The adventive embryos initiated at the chalazal end of the nucellus were more vigorous than those initiated at the micropylar end. Because of the lack of endosperm and poor seed development, however, all adventive embryos within the unfertilized seeds terminated their development at the globular or early cotyledonary stages and were unable to germinate under natural conditions. The capability of unfertilized seeds to develop varied from species to species. Growth of the adventive embryos was dependent on nucellus size, but the growth rate of adventive embryos relative to nucellus size was different in different species. Neither pollination, fertilization nor subsequent zygote and endosperm development further stimulated adventive embryo initiation. Conversely, pollination and subsequent fertilization of other seeds in the same fruit slightly, but significantly, suppressed adventive embryo growth in the unfertilized seeds. These facts concerning adventive embryogenesis in unfertilized seeds indicate that neither pollination nor fertilization is essential for in vivo adventive embryogenesis and that normal endosperm is necessary for perfect development of adventive embryos initiated only in the micropylar half of the nucellus.     

Movement of C-Labeled Assimilates into Kernels of Zea mays L: I. Pattern and Rate of Sugar Movement

Carbon-14, photosynthetically fixed in leaves of Zea mays L. and translocated to developing kernels, passed through specialized basal endosperm cells prior to movement into the starchy endosperm and embryo. Radioactivity migrated in the endosperm at a maximum rate of 2.7 millimeters per hour, and there was no difference in the rate of movement in kernels treated 14 to 30 days after pollination.     

Disruption of endosperm development: an inbreeding effect in almond (Prunus dulcis)

A homozygous self-compatible almond, originated from self-fertilization of a self-compatible genotype and producing a reasonable yield following open pollination, exhibited a very high fruit drop rate when self-pollinated. To investigate whether fruit dropping in this individual is related to an abnormal development of the embryo sac following self-fertilization, histological sections of ovaries from self and cross-pollinated flowers were observed by light microscopy. Additionally, the presence of pollen tubes in the ovary and fruit set were determined for both types of pollination. Despite pollen tubes reached the ovary after both pollinations, differences in embryo sac and endosperm development after fertilization were found. Thus, while for cross-fertilized ovules a pro-embryo and an endosperm with abundant nuclei were generally observed, most self-fertilized ovules remained in a previous developmental stage in which the embryo sac was not elongated and endosperm nuclei were absent. Although 30 days after pollination fruit set was similar for both pollination types, at 60 days it was significantly reduced for self-pollination. These results provide evidence that the high fruit drop in this genotype is the consequence of a disrupted development of the endosperm, what could be an expression of its high level of inbreeding.     

On the Fertilization of Oryza sativa L. × Sorghum vulgare Pets.

1.The pollen germination of Sorghum vulgate appeared normal on the stigma of the Oryza sativa, but the pollen tubes grew slowly in the style. Some of the pollen tubes may become enlarged in their tips or sometimes bursting, while others have continued to grow and entered the embryo sacs. 2. The growth rate of the pollen tubes varied widely. A few pollen tubes were observed in the embryo sacs of the materials 2 hours after pollination, but most of them entered the embryo sacs much later. 3. The zygote associated with a paucity of endosperm nuclei was observed in the materials 1 day after pollination. The double fertilization and 8–12-celled proembryo associated with a number of the free nuclei of the endosperm appeared with a rather high frequency (10.3%) in the materials 3 days after pollination. Some of them are normal in appearance and others may show more or less abnormalities. 4. No division figure was found except in one single case in which mitoses have occurred in both the proembryo and the endosperm. It is most likely that in such case the proembryo and the endosperm if left intact might develop further. 5. A 80-celled embryo was the biggest one which appeared in the materials 5 days after pollination. In general, no cells were ever formed in the endosperm, except in one instance among the 7 days materials the endosperm became cellular in micropylar end. In all other cases the endosperm either ceased to develop early or disorganized. The disorganized endosperm materials are considered to be utilized by the embryo. 6. In certain instances the free nuclei of the endosperm were not distributed at random. They were not equal in size and might fuse into giant nuclelei. 7. The most striking feature is that in the embryo sacs, in which double fertilization or proembryo and endosperm have occurred, a dark stained pollen tube was commonly present. This fact leads us to the conviction that in general only if a healthy pollen tube entered the embryo sac, double fertilization can take place and further development can proceed. 8. In certain cases the protoplasm of the embryo cells appeared scanty. It is apparently that the normal metabolism of the embryo was disturbed owing to the lack of nutrient, and the death of the embryo ensued. 9. No differentiated embryo was observed and no mature seeds were produced. The materials fixed 12 days after pollination showed a variety of abnormalities and collapses. The authors believe that the failure of seed production of rice X kaoliang was primarily due to the fact that the pollen tubes in the style grew too slowly to reach the embryo sacs in time. The consequence is that the double fertilization took place only in a late stage while the male and female gametes may have already become unhealthy. In addition, in this late stage the stored starch in the maternal tissues having gradually disappeared, the nutrient supply to the embryo sac was therefore limited and the young embryo and endosperm were finally in starvation.     

Cytological Studies on the Embryogenesis of Hybrids between Oryza sativa L.(Pennisetum sp.

(1) The pollen grains of Pennisetum can germinate normally on the stigma of rice and the pollen tubes can grow into the style and enter the embryo sacs. However, the process of double fertilization is slow and more or less abnormal and phenomenon of simple fertilization often occurs. (2) It has been found that in the majority of cases the development of the embryos is slow and stays long in the stage of globular embryos, thus, the differentiation of the embryos is very difficult and degeneration of the embryos appears many times. Simple differentiation was observed only in some embryos during 16–24 days after pollination. Normal differenting and developing embryos were not observed. The cause of the degeneration of the embryos is related to the state of endosperm development and also to the non-coordination of the genomes of both parents. (3) The development of the endosperm is abnormal. The change from the free nuclei into the cells in the endosperm is delayed as late as the 8th day after pollination. The whole endosperm tissue is composed of the cell masses which are quite different both in shape and function, a part of these endospemn cells lacks the ability to synthesize starch. The disintegration of the endosperm could be frequently observed during their development. (4) A lots of starch are accumulated in the nucellar cells near the antipodals, It is shown that there was some metabolic confusion resulted from the crossing in the embryo sacs. Based on the above mentioued results the authers consider that the failure of producing seeds by crossing is at least related to the nutrient condition which are essential for the development of embryos. If embryo culture technique is employed at the early stage of the embryo development the hybrid seeds could be obtained.