基部被子植物雪香兰（金粟兰科）单性花的形态发生和发育

基部被子植物金粟兰科（Chloranthaceae）的单性花或两性花结构十分简单,雪香兰（Hedyosmum orientale）花单性、雌雄异株,花的形态及结构与其它属物种具有显著的差异,对于研究被子植物花特别是花被的起源和系统进化具有重要意义。该研究采用电子显微镜和光学显微镜观察了雪香兰单性花的器官发生及发育过程。结果表明,雌、雄花均为顶生和腋生,多个小花呈聚伞圆锥状排列。雄花外侧是苞片,每朵雄花上着生150–200个雄蕊,花轴基部着生少数退化的叶原体。苞片原基及其腋生的花原基最初呈圆丘状,随后伸长。在雄花发育过程中,苞片原基比雄蕊原基生长快,雄花原基纵向伸长,叶原体原基在基部发生,雄蕊原基自下而上发生。每2朵雌花底部合生形成小聚伞花序,每朵雌花被一苞叶包裹,由单心皮和三棱型子房构成,外覆三裂叶状花被。在雌花发育过程中,雌花原基比苞片原基生长快,花被原基首先于花顶端发生,随后花顶端中心凹陷,进一步发育成具有单心皮的子房原基。雪香兰的单性花发育不经过两性同体阶段,花分生组织只起始雄蕊器官或雌蕊器官的发育。研究结果支持雪香兰单性花是原始性状的观点,雄花叶原体与雌花三裂叶状花被同源,可能是花被（萼片与花瓣）的起源。     

黄瓜雄花形成过程中心皮的发育

黄瓜(Cucumis sativus L.)为重要的经济作物,雌雄同株异花,是研究植物性别分化的经典材料。人们对黄瓜性别分化进行了广泛的研究。Astmon和Galun、任吉君和王艳对黄瓜性别分化的形态特征和器官发生进行了初步研究,表明黄瓜单性花分化和发育过程中经历了无性期、两性期和单性期,最终只有一种性别的性器官原基发育成有功能的性器官,从而形成单性花,而对单性花中未形成有功能器官的相反性别原基的研究报道甚少。我们对雄花发育过程进行了连续的形态学分析,并对不同时期雄花中的心皮进行了细胞计数和同工酶电泳分析,以期从性器官发育的角度探讨黄瓜性别表现的机理。     

玉米雌,雄穗与叶片内几种激素含量的比较

以甜玉米的材料,采用扫描电镜观察雌,雄花序发育过程,并用ＥＬＩＳＡ和ＨＰＬＣ检测雌,雄花序发育过程中内源激素和内源玉米赤霉烯含量,分析激素含量变化与玉米性别决定的关系。结果表明：玉米花序经过了无性,双性到单性的发育过程,在茎尖长和小穗原基突起时期雄花序中内源ｉＰＡｓ,ＺＲｓ,ＧＡ３和ＺＥＮ含量最高并高于雌花序;在玉米性别的关键时期即花器官原基突起到雌,雄性器官选择退化阶段,雄花序中ｉＰＡｓ,ＺＲｓ     

臭椿花器官分化的初步研究

利用扫描电镜(SEM)和光镜(LM)对臭椿花序及花器官的分化和发育进行了初步研究,表明:1)臭椿花器官分化于当年的4月初,为圆锥花序;2)分化顺序为花萼原基、花冠原基、雄蕊原基和雌蕊原基。5个萼片原基的发生不同步,并且呈螺旋状发生;5个花瓣原基几乎同步发生且其生长要比雄蕊原基缓慢;雄蕊10枚,两轮排列,每轮5个原基的分化基本是同步的;雌蕊5,其分化速度较快;3)在两性花植株中,5个心皮顶端粘合形成柱头和花柱,而在雄株中,5个心皮退化,只有雄蕊原基分化出花药和花丝。本研究着重观察了臭椿中雄花及两性花发育的过程中两性花向单性花的转变。结果表明,臭椿两性花及单性花的形成在花器官的各原基上是一致的(尽管时间上有差异),雌雄蕊原基同时出现在每一个花器官分化过程中,但是,可育性结构部分的形成取决于其原基是否分化成所应有的结构:雄蕊原基分化形成花药与花丝,雌蕊原基分化形成花柱、柱头和子房。臭椿单性花的形成是由于两性花中雌蕊原基的退化所造成,其机理有待于进一步研究。     

被子植物成花诱导和性别决定机制的研究进展

开花植物具有多样性的生殖系统,其中单性花的形成是促进异交、避免自交衰退、保持遗传多样性的重要途径。单性花物种分布于被子植物不同进化分支上的事实表明,物种的雌雄异花性可能是通过不同的机制进化形成的。本文从花发育、性染色体、植物激素和环境因素四个方面,阐述了被子植物性别分化调控机制的研究进展。     

糖蜜草（Melinis minutiflora Beauv．）幼穗分化发育．及花和果实形态的研究

本文对糖密草（ＭｅｌｉｎｉｓｍｉｎｕｔｉｆｌｏｒａＢｅａｕｖ．）的幼穗分化发育及花和果实的形态作了研究,将幼穗分化发育过程划分为以下九个时期：第一苞原基形成期;第一次枝梗原基形成期;第二、三次枝梗原基形成期;小穗及颖花原基形成期;雌、雄蕊原基形成期;花粉母细胞形成期;花粉母细胞减数分裂期;花粉充实期;花粉成熟期。全过程历时约需４２ｄ．从抽穗到颖果成熟约需５０ｄ。糖蜜草的花序为圆锥花序。每花序有可育花２０００—３０００朵．小穗是由小穗轴、内外颖片、不育花外稃和小花构成。小花包括有内外稃各一片、一鳞被、雄蕊三枚和一枚雌蕊,颖果千粒重为９１ｍｇ。     

平基槭花性别分化的细胞形态学观察

平基槭为杂性花,雄花与两性花同株,本文对其花性别分化过程进行了细胞形态学观察。结果发现,在花性别分化的早期,雄花和两性花的花芽中雌、雄蕊原基均具备,只是在花芽发育到一定时期,雄花的雌蕊原基发生选择性败育,败育发生在大孢子母细胞减数分裂为4个大孢子时期。两性花的雌蕊可以正常膨大结实,雄蕊花药虽然可以形成二核花粉,但不能正常开裂,属于不育雄蕊。初步分析认为,两性花雄蕊花药不能正常开裂与花粉囊壁纤维层木质化程度低有关。     

元宝枫花芽分化及花开放过程研究

为探明元宝枫花性别、交配系统及花芽分化过程,通过石蜡切片和连续解剖观察,对元宝枫花开放及花芽分化过程进行了研究。结果表明：(1)元宝枫花性别可分为雌能花和雄能花两种,雌能花花药不开裂,只表现雌性功能,而雄能花分Ⅰ型和Ⅱ型两种,花药均可产生成熟花粉并开裂散粉,只表现雄性功能。(2)元宝枫是较为少见的二重雌雄异型异熟树种,且交配系统有雄先型和雌先型两种;雄先型小花开放顺序为：雄能花→雌能花→雄能花,雌先型小花开放顺序为雌能花→雄能花→雄能花。(3)元宝枫花芽的形态分化期开始于7月上旬,花序和小花分化期为8月上旬,雄蕊和雌蕊分化开始于8月下旬,雌配子体发育晚于雄配子体。(4)元宝枫花性别分化的关键期为第二年的3月下旬至4月上旬。     

MYB基因在玉米雌穗发育中差异表达的研究

目的:研究MYB基因在玉米雌穗不同发育阶段的表达情况,为探讨其生物学功能提供相关线索。方法:用芯片杂交的方法检测玉米雌穗早期发育过程中差异表达的MYB基因,定量PCR验证差异基因的表达情况,原位杂交分析差异基因的组织器官表达。结果:一个MYB基因在雌穗发育到小花分化期时上调表达(芯片分析其表达差异倍数为1.8)。其表达的差异性得到了定量PCR的验证(定量PCR分析其差异表达倍数为4.3)。原位杂交分析发现该基因主要表达于小穗的生长锥顶部和小花雌雄蕊原基部位。结论:MYB基因对玉米雌穗早期发育起到一定作用。     

香港四照花花芽分化的形态学观察

采用石蜡切片技术和形态观察对香港四照花(Dendrobenthamia hongkongensis(Hemsl.)Hutch.)花芽分化过程中花芽的形态变化进行观测,研究花芽外部形态与花芽分化之间的关系。结果显示,香港四照花的花芽分化开始于7月上旬,到9月底完成,形态分化过程可分为8个时期:未分化期、花序原基分化期、小花原基分化期、花萼原基分化期、花瓣原基分化期、雄蕊原基分化期、雌蕊原基分化期、雌蕊雄蕊形成期。与之对应的外部形态变化为:混合芽闭合,混合芽基部膨大,新叶展开露出圆形花序,花柄初现,花序膨大,花序表面小花突起,花柄伸长至4~6 mm,花序表面小花轮廓明显。香港四照花花芽外部形态能直观地反映出内部结构变化,可根据花芽外部形态特征推测花芽分化状况。研究结果可为香港四照花花期调控和栽培管理提供科学依据。     

Sex determination in flowering plants.

In many ways, plants offer unique systems through which to study sex determination. Because the production of unisexual flowers has evolved independently in many plant species, different and novel mechanisms may be operational. Hence, there is probably not one unifying mechanism that explains sex determination in plants. Advances in our understanding of sex determination will come from the analysis of the genetics, molecular biology, and biochemistry of genes controlling sexual determination in plants. Several excellent model systems for bisexual floral development (Arabidopsis and Antirrhinum), monoecy (maize), and dioecy (Silene, asparagus, and mercury) are available for such analyses. The important questions that remain concern the mechanism of action of sex determination genes and their interrelationship, if any, with homeotic genes that determine the sexual identity of floral organ primordia. At the physiological level, the connection between hormone signaling and sexuality is not well understood, although significant correlations have been discovered. Finally, once the genes that regulate these processes are identified, cloned, and studied, new strategies for the manipulation of sexuality in plants should be forthcoming.     

Action of the Tunicate locus on maize floral development

The co-dominant Tunicate (Tu) mutation in maize causes nonreproductive structures in both the male and female inflorescences to be enlarged. This mutation also affects sex determination, permitting the development of pistils in the normally staminate tassel. In order to characterize the role of the normal tu gene product, we have analysed genetic interaction between Tu and other mutations that perturb specific stages of floral development. Synergistic interactions observed suggested that the tu product functions in at least three stages of floral development–determination of spikelet primordia, differentiation of non-reproductive organs and pistil abortion in the tassel. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Sex Determination by Sex Chromosomes in Dioecious Plants

Abstract: Sex chromosomes have been reported in several dioecious plants. The most general system of sex determination with sex chromosomes is the XY system, in which males are the heterogametic sex and females are homogametic. Genetic systems in sex determination are divided into two classes including an X chromosome counting system and an active Y chromosome system. Dioecious plants have unisexual flowers, which have stamens or pistils. The development of unisexual flowers is caused by the suppression of opposite sex primordia. The expression of floral organ identity genes is different between male and female flower primordia. However, these floral organ identity genes show no evidence of sex chromosome linkage. The Y chromosome of Rumex acetosa contains Y chromosome-specific repetitive sequences, whereas the Y chromosome of Silene latifolia has not accumulated chromosome-specific repetitive sequences. The different degree of Y chromosome degeneration may reflect on evolutionary time since the origination of dioecy. The Y chromosome of S. latifolia functions in suppression of female development and initiation and completion of anther development. Analyses of mutants suggested that female suppressor and stamen promoter genes are localized on the Y chromosome. Recently, some sex chromosome-linked genes were isolated from flower buds of S. latifolia.     

DEVELOPMENT OF TASSEL SEED 2 INFLORESCENCES IN MAIZE

The normal pattern of maize floral development of staminate florets on the terminal inflorescence (tassel) and pistillate florets on the lateral inflorescences (ears) is disrupted by the recessive mutation tassel seed 2. Tassel seed 2 mutant plants develop pistillate florets instead of staminate florets in the tassel. In addition, the ears of tassel seed 2 plants display irregular rowing of kernels due to the development of the normally suppressed lower floret of each spikelet. The morphology of tassel and ear florets of the recessive maize mutant tassel seed 2 has been compared to those of wild-type maize through development. We have identified the earliest stages at which morphological signs of sex differentiation are evident. We find that sex determination occurs during the same stage on tassel and ear development. Early postsex determination morphology of florets in wild-type ears and in tassel seed 2 tassels and ears is identical.     

Floral development and the formation of unisexual spikelets in the Andropogoneae (Poaceae)

We investigated spikelet development in four distantly related species of the grass tribe Andropogoneae to determine whether spikelet development and the formation of unisexual florets are uniform throughout the tribe. We studied development in Bothriochloa bladhii, Coelorachis aurita, Heteropogon contortus, and Hyparrhenia hirta, and compared these with Panicum, a member of the sister tribe Paniceae. Many aspects of spikelet development in the species we have studied correlate with what is already known for Tripsacum and maize (both Andropogoneae), despite variation in how unisexual florets are distributed on the plant. The formation of unisexual spikelets is also uniform. All florets initiate both pistil and stamen primordia. In florets destined to be male, cell death occurs in the subepidermal layers of the gynoecium after the formation of a gynoecial ridge. In florets destined to be female, there is no apparent cell death in the stamens, but growth ceases after anther formation. The similarity in spikelet development and the formation of unisexual florets point to a common genetic mechanism for sex determination throughout the Andropogoneae and possibly the entire Panicoideae. Use of a cell death pathway to cause gynoecial abortion may be the basis of one morphological character that defines the subfamily.     

New insight in the Gibberellin biosynthesis and signal transduction

Gibberellin (GA) plays important roles through plant growth and development. However, where GA is synthesized inside a cell and how it regulates sex determination is obscure. We analyzed the classic dwarf1 (d1) mutant in maize and revealed that D1 encodes GA 3-oxidase converting inactive GA intermediates to bioactive GA. As such, the D1 protein marks the sites where GA is potentially synthesized. Interestingly, the D1 protein was found to localize in the cytosol and nucleus, a dual-localization coinciding with the GA receptor. The same result was found for GA 20-oxidase catalyzing the upstream reaction. These results suggest that GA can be synthesized in the cytosol and nucleus. The D1 protein was highly and specifically expressed in the stamen primordia in the ear florets, but low in the whole tassel. Hence it is possible that low level of GA in the tassel is insufficient to suppress stamen development. As jasmonic acid (JA) plays antagonistic role to GA in the tassel florets, here we propose a model to explain this antagonism effect on the regulation of the stamen and pistil organ development in the tassel florets in maize.     

Role of growth regulators in differentiation processes of maize (Zea mays L.) organs

The following paper deals with the character of endogenous auxins and gibberellinlike substances in the maize tassel and ear primordia during differentiation. Using bioassay the character of substances extracted from tassel primordia, internodes below the tassel, ear primordia and stem base was determined and correlated with the course of morphogenesis and differentiation. A low level of auxins and a high content of gibberellin-like substances accompanies the differentiation of terminal tassel. The differentiation of an ear is associated with an increment in auxin content while the level of gibberellin-like substances decreases. The character of growth substances in primordia remains practically unchanged in the course of further differentiation. The inhibitions appear in the plant and probably start numerous morphological reductions in the pistillate inflorescence structure or inhibit the growth of lateral primordia on the stemetc. The treatment of plants with maleic hydrazide at the beginning of tassel differentiation shifts the normal levels of endogenous regulators and brings about the transformation of tassel primordia into an ear. This transformation is accompanied by a marked rise in gibberellin-like substances, by an increment in auxins and the appearance of inhibitors.     

Experimental Analysis of Tassel Development in the Maize Mutant Tassel Seed 6

The maize (Zea mays L.) mutation Tassel seed 6 (Ts6) disrupts both sex determination in the tassel and the pattern of branching in inflorescences. This results in the formation of supernumerary florets in tassels and ears and in the development of pistils in tassel florets where they are normally aborted. A developmental analysis indicated that extra florets in Ts6 inflorescences are most likely the result of delayed determinacy in spikelet meristems, which then initiate additional floret meristems rather than initiating floral organs as in wild type. I have used culturing experiments to assay whether delayed determinacy of Ts6 mutant tassels is reflected in an altered timing of specific determination events. Length of the tassel was used as a developmental marker. These experiments showed that although Ts6 tassels elongate much more slowly than wild type, both mutant and wild-type tassels gained the ability to form flowers with organs of normal morphology in culture at the same time. In situ hybridization patterns of expression of the maize gene Kn, which is normally expressed in shoot meristems and not in determinate lateral organs, confirmed that additional meristems, rather than lateral organs, are initiated by spikelet meristems in Ts6 tassels.     

Functional analysis of B and C class floral organ genes in spinach demonstrates their role in sexual dimorphism

Background  

Evolution of unisexual flowers entails one of the most extreme changes in plant development. Cultivated spinach, Spinacia oleracea L., is uniquely suited for the study of unisexual flower development as it is dioecious and it achieves unisexually by the absence of organ development, rather than by organ abortion or suppression. Male staminate flowers lack fourth whorl primordia and female pistillate flowers lack third whorl primordia. Based on theoretical considerations, early inflorescence or floral organ identity genes would likely be directly involved in sex-determination in those species in which organ initiation rather than organ maturation is regulated. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that sexual dimorphism occurs through the regulation of B class floral organ gene expression by experimentally knocking down gene expression by viral induced gene silencing.