Mentor pollen effects on gametophytic incompatibility in Nicotiana,Oenothera and Lycopersicum

Summary Attempts were made, through mentor pollen techniques, to overcome self-incompatibility in species belonging to the genera Nicotiana and Oenothera and in a hybrid of Lycopersicum, which are characterized by a gametophytic system of incompatibility. While radiation-killed incompatible pollen did not generate mentor effects in any of the material tested, radiation-killed compatible pollen was found to promote a high level of illegitimate fertilizations by incompatible pollen in N. alata. No evidence was obtained that radiation-killed compatible pollen could induce mentor effects in strictly self-incompatible clones of O. organensis and of the interspecific hybrid L. esculentum x L. peruvianum.This publication is contribution no 1563 from the Biology Radio-protection and Medical Research programme of the Directorate General XII of the Commission of the European Communities     

Overcoming prefertilization barriers in the crossDiplotaxis siettiana ×Brassica juncea using irradiated mentor pollen

Hybridization between the nearly extinct speciesDiplotaxis siettiana andBrassica juncea is prevented because of strong prefertilization barriers. Use of mentor pollen ofD. siettiana irradiated with 1000 Gy gamma radiation before the incompatible pollination led to fertilization. 5 d after pollination 17% ovules showed entry of pollen tubes, 10 d after pollination 27% ovules showed small globular embryos which grew no further. No embryos were found in control pollinations. Thus , use of irradiated mentor pollen brings about fertilization in this difficult cross and hybrids can be obtained if embryos are rescued.     

Overcoming prefertilization barriers in the crossDiplotaxis siettiana × Brassica juncea using irradiated mentor pollen

Hybridization between the nearly extinct speciesDiplotaxis siettiana andBrassica juncea is prevented because of strong prefertilization barriers. Use of mentor pollen ofD. siettiana irradiated with 1000 Gy gamma radiation before the incompatible pollination led to fertilization. 5 d after pollination 17% ovules showed entry of pollen tubes, 10 d after pollination 27% ovules showed small globular embryos which grew no further. No embryos were found in control pollinations. Thus , use of irradiated mentor pollen brings about fertilization in this difficult cross and hybrids can be obtained if embryos are rescued.     

Mentor pollen: Possible role of wall-held pollen growth promoting substances in overcoming intra- and interspecific incompatibility

Recent studies have shown that certain normally incompatible, interspecific combinations in the genus Populus, and intraspecific combination in Cosmos bipinnatus can be made compatible by mixing irradiation- or chemically-killed compatible pollen (mentor) with normal incompatible pollen at the time of pollination. Knox and associates have proposed that in the sporophytic system of incompatibility the compatible mentor pollen provides the so-called specific recognition substances to the incompatible pollen thereby making the latter compatible. In the present experiments mentor pollen was used in attempts to overcome both intra- and interspecific incompatibility in the genus Nicotiana which has a gametophytic intraspecific incompatibility system. Although not denying that recognition substances specific to pollenpistil incompatibility reactions are present in pollen walls, the results suggest that a role of mentor pollen in overcoming incompatibility may be to provide extra free pollen growth promoting substances (PGS). These substances are apparently able to promote just sufficient further growth to allow some fertilizations by certain pollen tubes with inherently weak expression of incompatibility.The present proposed PGS-Hypothesis also elucidates the physiological basis of the widely-held relationship found between genetic systems of self-incompatibility and sites of pollen inhibition.     

The mentor pollen phenomenon in poplars: a new concept

Summary The mentor effect has been investigated in poplars. Attempts to overcome interspecific incompatibility are analysed by pollen germination and pollen tube behaviour in situ, both for compatible and incompatible crosses. We have demonstrated that following the mixed pollination, the two pollen sets interact at different levels of the progamic phase. A hypothetical model is proposed which describes mentor effect as the result of interactions of antagonist and cynergic forces applying on compatible pollen and tubes. These forces promote pollen tube growth both on the female partner surface and within the tissues.     

Interspecific crossability studies in poplars

Summary Pollen-stigma interactions were studied with scanning electron microscopy in intraspecific and intersectional crosses of Populus tremuloides (Sect. LEUCE); P. deltoides, P. nigra (Sect. AIGEIROS); and P. trichocarpa (Sect. TACAMAHACA). Intraspecific variation in hydration, size of hydrated pollen grains, and tube morphology is described. Exine sculpture in P. tremuloides was densely spinulate or scabrate, in P. trichocarpa densely reticulate, in the other species somewhat intermediate. In six of seven intersectional cross combinations pollen-tube behavior on the stigmatic surface at 5–22 hours after pollination was the same as in conspecific matings; in P. tremuloides x P. trichocarpa crosses, the percentage of twisted and bulging tubes was significantly higher. Irradiated mentor pollen did not affect pollentube behavior of adjacent incompatible pollen, but increased hybrid seedling production in interspecific crosses. By contrast, hexane treatment of pollen or stigma, and the spraying of catkins with gibberellic acid or naphtalene acetic acid were ineffective. The results are discussed in relation to several mechanisms presumed to be involved in restricting gene exchange among poplar species; and in relation to Hogenboom's (1973) incongruity concept.     

芥菜型油菜与白菜正反杂交的胚胎学研究

利用荧光技术对芥菜型油菜(Brassica juncea)与白菜(B. pekinesis)种间正反杂交后花粉萌发和花粉管生长过程进行了观察。结果显示: 芥菜型油菜与白菜正交授粉后, 花粉在柱头上能正常萌发, 多数花粉管沿花柱到达胚珠完成受精, 且受精方式有珠孔受精、合点受精和中部受精, 少量花粉管生长不正常, 出现花粉管顶端膨大扭曲, 花粉管分支等异常现象; 反交授粉后, 花粉在柱头上萌发时柱头乳突细胞产生强烈胼胝质反应, 影响花粉管生长, 只有少量花粉管通过花柱到达胚珠完成受精。用石蜡切片技术观察了正反杂交后杂种的胚胎发育, 正交杂种胚胎发育较早, 胚和胚乳生长较正常, 杂种胚一般均能发育至成熟; 反交杂种胚发育至心型期便不能继续发育, 胚乳也停滞在游离核阶段并最终败育。综合分析 表明, 芥菜型油菜与白菜正反杂交都存在一定程度的受精不亲和性。     

芥菜型油菜与白菜正反杂交的胚胎学研究

利用荧光技术对芥菜型油菜（Brassica juncea）与白菜（B．pekinesis）种间正反杂交后花粉萌发和花粉管生长过程进行了观察。结果显示：芥菜型油菜与白菜正交授粉后,花粉在柱头上能正常萌发,多数花粉管沿花柱到达胚珠完成受精,且受精方式有珠孔受精、合点受精和中部受精,少量花粉管生长不正常,出现花粉管顶端膨大扭曲,花粉管分支等异常现象;反交授粉后,花粉在柱头上萌发时柱头乳突细胞产生强烈胼胝质反应,影响花粉管生长,只有少量花粉管通过花柱到达胚珠完成受精。用石蜡切片技术观察了正反杂交后杂种的胚胎发育,正交杂种胚胎发育较早,胚和胚乳生长较正常,杂种胚一般均能发育至成熟;反交杂种胚发育至心型期便不能继续发育,胚乳也停滞在游离核阶段并最终败育。综合分析表明,芥菜型油菜与白菜正反杂交都存在一定程度的受精不亲和性。     

Intergeneric hybridization between Diplotaxis siettiana and crop brassicas for the production of alloplasmic lines

Summary Intergeneric hybrids were produced between Diplotaxis siettiana and Brassica campestris through embryo rescue. The hybrids were completely pollen sterile and backcrosses with pollen of B. campestris did not yield any seeds. Induction of colchiploidy restored pollen fertility and backcross pollinations yielded viable seeds. Cytological details of the hybrid, amphidiploid and backcross progenies were studied. Both pollen-sterile and pollen-fertile plants have been obtained in backcross 2 progeny. This hybrid (D. siettiana x B. campestris) was used as a bridge cross to transfer the cytoplasm of D. Siettiana to two other incompatible cultivars of Brassica — B. juncea and B. napus. Pollinations of the amphidiploid (D. siettiana x B. campestris, 2n = 36) with pollen of B. juncea/B. napus readily produced seeds without embryo rescue. These hybrids were grown to flowering and their cytological details were studied. Seeds have been produced from backcross pollinations of both these hybrids with the pollen of the respective cultivars. The results clearly show the feasibility of producing alloplasmic lines in all the three oilseed brassicas.     

Mentor effects in wild species of Helianthus (Asteraceae)

Self-incompatibility (SI) is an effective method for limiting self-fertilization in flowering plant species, but there are circumstances in which an otherwise functional SI system may fail. One of the most intriguing of these is the induction of selfing by mixed loads of self and heterospecific pollen (the mentor effect) because it is likely to occur under natural conditions, such as in hybrid zones. Here we conducted a series of controlled crosses to determine whether mentor effects operate in two SI annual species, Helianthus annuus and H. petiolaris, and whether the failure of SI results in a decrease in the frequency of hybridization between these two species. Of the 1396 achenes examined from pollen mixtures that included varying ratios of self, intraspecific compatible, and interspecific pollen, 71 (5.1%) were selfed. Selfing frequencies were significantly less than expected based on pollen ratios, except when the proportion of intraspecific compatible pollen was low. Hybridization frequencies from these same pollen ratios averaged 41.8% with H. annuus as the maternal species and 13.3% with H. petiolaris as the mother. Analysis of 1404 achenes from pollen mixtures that excluded self pollen resulted in hybridization frequencies for H. annuus (42.2%) and H. petiolaris (18.2%) that do not differ significantly from those including self pollen. Thus, mentor effects do not appear to play an important role in reproductive isolation between these species. On the other hand, even a modest increase in self-fertilization in hybrid populations, such as that due to mentor effects, could enhance the probability of hybrid species establishment.     

Pollen fertility and intraspecific and interspecific compatibility in mangroves of Fiji

 Pollen fertility and compatibility status were investigated in three species of mangroves: Bruguiera gymnorhiza, Rhizophora samoensis, R. stylosa and a hybrid between the two Rhizophora species. Pollen fertility was greater than 80% in the three species but less than 10% in the hybrid. Also, all three species were intraspecifically compatible, while the hybrid showed very low compatibility which may be due to its low pollen fertility. The genera Bruguiera and Rhizophora were found to be completely cross incompatible, while a low reciprocal cross compatibility was observed in interspecific crosses between Rhizophora stylosa and R. samoensis. Received: 5 June 1997 / Revision accepted: 10 October 1997     

Synthesis and phosphorylation of pollen proteins during the pollen-stigma interaction in self-compatible Brassica napus L. and self-incompatible Brassica oleracea L.

A technique is described which permits the in vivo study of protein synthesis and phosphorylation in the pollen of Brassica spp. during the early stages of the pollen-stigma interaction. In Brassica napus and B. oleracea, compatible pollination is followed by a dramatic activation of protein synthesis in the pollen involving the synthesis of approximately 40 proteins. After incompatible pollinations in B. oleracea, virtually no newly synthesised polypeptides were detected in the pollen except for a small group of high molecular weight proteins which were not normally synthesised during compatible pollinations. Both compatible and incompatible pollinations were followed by the appearance of newly phosphorylated proteins in the pollen; these fell into four distinct groups. In B. oleracea, the number of phosphorylated proteins and the degree of phosphorylation of individual proteins within the four groups differed between compatible and incompatible pollinations. One group of phosphorylated proteins appeared to correspond with the small group of high molecular weight polypeptides which were synthesised in pollen after incompatible pollinations. These findings are discussed in the perspective of cell signalling during the pollen-stigma interaction in Brassica and also in terms of their possible implication in sporophytic self-incompatibility.     

The Cross Compatibility and Hybrid Seed Vigor among Three Glycyrrhiza Species

In order to discuss the cross compatibility and hybrid seed vigor of sympatric species among Guralensis, Gglabra and Geurycarpa distributed in Xinjiang, the cross fruiting rate, the pollen germination on stigma, the pollen tube growth in style after cross pollination and germination parameters of hybrid seeds were analyzed. Results showed that there was highly cross compatibility among these three Glycyrrhiza plants and their hybrids seeds were highly vigor. It suggested that the interspecific isolation mechanism of the three Glycyrrhiza plants was weak. Moreover, the natural hybridizations may occur and form natural hybrid zone.     

三种甘草属植物的种间杂交亲和性及杂交种子活力

通过新疆分布的3种甘草属植物——乌拉尔甘草（Glycyrrhiza uralensis）、光果甘草（G．glabra）和黄甘草（G．eurycarpa）的人工杂交试验,比较了杂交结果率、杂交种子的萌发参数、幼苗成活率等指标,并对杂交授粉后花粉管萌发、生长过程进行荧光观察,旨在探讨3种甘草属植物的种间杂交亲和性及杂交后代种子活力。结果表明：（1）种间杂交结果率最高为96．67％,最低为55．62％,说明3种甘草种间杂交配子亲和性较高;（2）荧光显微观察表明,各杂交组合在授粉后0．5～2h内花粉均可在柱头上大量萌发,在授粉后48h内花粉管均可到达子房与胚珠受精,说明三种甘草种间杂交不存在配子隔离障碍;（3）杂交种子萌发率、发芽指数、平均萌发时间和幼苗成活率与自然结实种子无显著差异,种间杂交种子活力较高,幼苗成活率均为75％以上。以上结果表明3种甘草属植物的同域分布区,在相同传粉途径下,这三种甘草属植物的种间隔离机制不完善。有发生自然杂交并形成杂交区的可能。     

Low glucosinolate Brassica juncea breeding line revealed to be nullisomic.

The low glucosinolate Brassica juncea breeding line 1058 was derived from a BC1F3 plant of an interspecific cross between high glucosinolate Indian B. juncea (genome AABB, 2n = 36) line 60143 and B. rapa (genome AA, 2n = 20) canola strain CZY. Line 60143 had 2n = 36 chromosomes (18 bivalents at metaphase I) and strain CZY had 2n = 20 chromosomes (10 bivalents). Line 1058 was nullisomic, with 2n - 2 = 34 chromosomes, with 17 bivalents formed at metaphase I and an even chromosomal segregation of 17:17 at anaphase I. In F1 hybrid plants of the cross 1058 x CZY, 98.3% of the pollen mother cells had 10 bivalents and seven univalents. This is evidence that plants of line 1058 are nullisomic, missing one pair of B-genome chromosomes.     

Interspecific incompatibility in Populus: inhibition of tube growth and behaviour of the male germ unit inP. deltoides×P. alba cross

Summary In order to better understand the cellular events controlling interspecific incompatibility in the genus Populus, the incompatible cross betweenP. deltoides andP. alba has been investigated both at the light and electron microscopic levels. Stained in decolourized aniline blue and observed by epifluorescence microscopy, most incompatible pollen grains are seen to germinate at the stigma surface. Numerous incompatible pollen tubes reach the base of the style where they are arrested 19 h after pollination. Ultrastructural observations on in vivo growing incompatible pollen tubes confirm these data. Very few cytoplasmic modifications are seen within living pollen tubes reaching the lower end of the style or within arrested ones, except the presence of polymorphic plastids. In this predominantly tricellular system, the male germ unit (MGU) is apparently initiated at pollen maturity as an association between the vegetative nucleus and sperm cells. It is maintained during pollen tube growth within the style and persists within arrested incompatible pollen tubes. The unique observation of an association between a dividing generative cell at metaphase and the vegetative nucleus is also reported. Arrested pollen tubes are characterized by apical deformations and accumulation of callose within their thickened cell walls. These cytological data provide additional information on the cellular events associated with interspecific incompatibility in Populus.Abbreviations DAPI 4,6-diamino-2-phenylindole - FCR fluorochromatic reaction - MGU male germ unit     

Preferential exclusion of hybrids in mixed pollinations between oilseed rape (Brassica napus) and weedy B. campestris (Brassicaceae)

In most experimental hybridizations between oilseed rape (Brassica napus) and weedy B. campestris, either intra- or interspecific pollen has been applied to individual flowers. Under field conditions, however, stigmas will often receive a mixture of the two types of pollen, thereby allowing for competition between male gametophytes and/or seeds within pods. To test whether competition influences the success of hybridization, pollen from the two species was mixed in different proportions and applied to stigmas of both species. The resulting seeds were scored for paternity by isozyme and randomly amplified polymorphic DNA analysis. Using data on the proportion of fully developed seeds and the proportion of these seeds that were hybrids, a statistical model was constructed to estimate the fitness of conspecific and heterospecific pollen and the survival of conspecific and heterospecific zygotes to seeds. B. campestris pollen in B. napus styles had a significantly lower fitness than the conspecific pollen, whereas no difference between pollen types was found in B. campestris styles. Hybrid zygotes survived to significantly lower proportions than conspecific zygotes in both species, with the lowest survival of hybrid zygotes in B. napus pods. This is in contrast to the higher survival of hybrid seeds in B. napus than in B. campestris pods when pollinations are made with pure pollen. Altogether, the likelihood of a foreign pollen grain producing a seed was much lower on B. napus than on B. campestris. In addition, pods on B. napus developed to a lower extent the more heterospecific pollen was in the mix, whereas this had no effect on B. campestris.     

Heterostyly and Pollen-tube Interactions in Luculia gratissima (Rubiaceae)

Observations on the floral biology of Luculia gratissima (Rubiaceae)showed that this species is distylous with complementary positioningof anthers and stigmas in the two floral forms. Unusual featuresof distyly in this species include the larger size of the corolla,the stigma surface and the stigmatic papillae in the thrum flowerscompared to the pin ones. Stigmatic surfaces have similar secretionsbut they appear more copious in thrum than pin. The floral dimorphismwas accompanied by a very effective self-incompatibility systemand no seed was set on selfing. Seed number per capsule on crossingwas significantly greater in thrum flowers compared to pin.Incompatible pollen tubes were inhibited within 24 h at thebase of the stigma/top of the style in both morphs. Amputationof this region of the gynoecium removed the self-incompatibilityreaction in thrum but not pin flowers. Pollination with a mixtureof compatible and incompatible pollen and sequential pollinationwith self followed by cross pollen showed that there were interactionsbetween the two types of pollen tube. The presence of compatibletubes was found to cause the excessive swelling of the pollen-tubetip of the incompatible ones. The incompatible tubes did notappear to have any effect on the growth of compatible ones. Luculia gratissima, distyly, floral biology, self-incompatibility, pollen-tube interactions     

中棉×戴维逊氏棉胚胎发育的研究

以棉花栽培种中棉作母本,野生种戴维逊氏棉作父本进行杂交试验,并用中棉自交作对照,比较研究了杂交情况下花粉粒的萌发、花粉管的生长、受精作用及胚和胚乳的发育过程,得到以下结果:(1)中棉×戴维逊氏棉花粉粒的萌发及花粉管在异己花柱中的生长基本正常,有花粉管胚珠的频率约20％,为中棉自交的1/4左右;(2)在杂交情况下,有花粉管进入的胚珠基本上能实现受精;(3)杂种胚乳在授粉后7天发育异常,11天开始解体,16天才有部分胚珠的胚乳开始形成细胞壁;(4)杂种胚不分化或畸形分化,在授粉后11—22天坏死。     

Actin depolymerization is sufficient to induce programmed cell death in self-incompatible pollen

Self-incompatibility (SI) prevents inbreeding through specific recognition and rejection of incompatible pollen. In incompatible Papaver rhoeas pollen, SI triggers a Ca2+ signaling cascade, resulting in the inhibition of tip growth, actin depolymerization, and programmed cell death (PCD). We investigated whether actin dynamics were implicated in regulating PCD. Using the actin-stabilizing and depolymerizing drugs jasplakinolide (Jasp) and latrunculin B, we demonstrate that changes in actin filament levels or dynamics play a functional role in initiating PCD in P. rhoeas pollen, triggering a caspase-3-like activity. Significantly, SI-induced PCD in incompatible pollen was alleviated by pretreatment with Jasp. This represents the first account of a specific causal link between actin polymerization status and initiation of PCD in a plant cell and significantly advances our understanding of the mechanisms involved in SI.