MICROSPOROGENESIS IN MALE-STERILE AND HERMAPHRODITIC PLANTS OF NINE GYNODIOECIOUS TAXA OF HAWAIIAN BIDENS (ASTERACEAE)

Microsporogenesis was investigated in hermaphroditic and male-sterile plants in nine gynodioecious taxa of Hawaiian Bidens. Normal microsporogenesis in hermaphrodites and the onset of abortion in male steriles were similar in all taxa and in a hybrid between two gynodioecious species. The early abnormal vacuolation of tapetal cells is the first visible evidence leading to premeiotic abortion of microsporogenesis in male steriles. The sporogenous cells disintegrate rapidly after the vacuolation of the tapetum, resulting in a shrunken, indehiscent anther which is composed of only the epidermal layer with some remnant cells of the endothecium and the connective at anthesis. In hermaphrodites, the tapetal cells remain dense and undergo karyokinesis to become binucleate during meiosis I. The tapetum becomes plasmodial after microspores are released from tetrads and gradually disappears during pollen formation. The genetic factor(s) which cause the abortion act with remarkable precision and consistency in all taxa investigated. This suggests that gynodioecy in all Hawaiian Bidens is homologous and the establishment of male sterility in Hawaiian Bidens occurred only once. The spread of the genetic male-sterile factor(s) may be the result of adaptive radiation of the original gynodioecious species or natural interspecific hybridization.     

Gene lineage analysis in populations ofHelianthus niveus andH. petiolaris (Asteraceae)

Helianthus petiolaris andH. niveus are polytypic species which are morphologically distinct at the periphery of their ranges but intergrade in areas of sympatry.Helianthus niveus includes both annual and perennial members, whereasH. petiolaris is strictly annual. Chloroplast DNA and nuclear ribosomal DNA restriction site data were used to reconstruct the evolutionary history of populations of the two species. Cladistic analyses reveal the following: (1) neither species is monophyletic; (2) the annual habit is derived once in this complex; and (3) the region of morphological intergradation appears to be primary in origin. The significance of interbreeding versus common descent in defining species concepts is discussed in relation to the above cladistic analyses.     

Pollen Ontogeny in Catananche caerulea L. (Compositae: Lactuceae) I. Premeiotic Phase to Establishment of Tetrads

The SEM has been used to observe microsporogenesis in Catananchecaerulea (Compositae: Lactuceae) from the time of mother cellformation to the early tetrad stage. The three main ontogeneticfeatures discussed are: intercellular cytoplasmic connectionsbetween meiocytes, the deposition of the callose special cellwall and changes in cytoplasmic organelles that are associatedwith the cycle of ribosome elimination occurring during thetransition to the gametophyte generation. The results are comparedwith other flowering plants and with members of tribe Lactuceaethat have morphologically different mature pollen grains. Catananche caerulea, Compositae: Lactuceae, meiosis, microsporogenesis, ontogeny, scanning electron microscopy, special cell wall     

A comparison of the water relations characteristics of Helianthus annuus and Helianthus petiolaris when subjected to water deficits

The effect of water deficits on the water relations and stomatal responses of Helianthus annuus and Helianthus petiolaris were compared in plants growing in the glasshouse under controlled conditions. Unirrigated plants of both genotypes were subjected to two different stress rates in which predawn leaf water potentials declined steadily at either 0.15 MPa day^?1 or 0.50 MPa day^?1. In both genotypes water stress induced a gradual and similar decrease in leaf conductance from 1.6 to 0.3 cm s^?1 as water potential decreased from-0.5 to-2.0 MPa. The relationship between leaf conductance and leaf water potential was not affected by the rate of stress development. Development of predawn leaf water potentials of-1.3 MPa had no significant effect on the relative water content at zero turgor, the apoplastic water content or the volumetric elastic modulus of whole leaves in either species, but decreased the osmotic potential at full turgor and zero turgor by 0.22 MPa and decreased the turgid weight: dry weight ratio from 10.6 to 8.4 in H. annuus, but not in H. petiolaris. In H. annuus leaves expanded during stress development, changes in the osmotic potential at full turgor induced by water deficits did not disappear on rewatering.     

Cytological Observations of Microsporogenesis and Pollen Development in Triticum Sect. Trititrigia,T. aestivum and Their Hybrids

Cytological observation of microsporogenesis and pollen development of two parents, Xiaoyan 7430 and Yannong 15, and their hybrids were carried out by using squash method in this study. The results show: that microsporogenesis of the two parents, Xiaoyan 7430 and Yannong 15, is normal but their microspores usually aborted at first meiosis in pollen development. The frequency of abortion is higher in the former than the latter. However, the pollen development of which passed through the first meiosis is normal at the 2- or 3-nucleated stage. The rate of setting of both parents is basically normal. The meiosis of pollen mother cell (PMC) of two hybrids of Xiaoyan 7430 × Lumai No.1 and Xiaoyan 7430 × Yannong 15 is quite chaotic. Despite of the high frequency of univalents and multivalents at meiotic MI of PMC, and of micronucleoli in tetrad as well of the laggards at meiotic Al observed, the frequency of abortion of microspore are both at about 10%, similar to that of Xiaoyan 7430, at first meiosis of microspore in the stage of pollen development. Even though the pollen developments are basically normal in the 2- or 3-nucleated stage, but the percentage of setting of two hybrids is 28.24% and 33.82% respectively, apparently lower than that of their parents. The above-mentioned results indicate that although meiosis of PMC of F1 is chaotic, yet normal microspore could be formed and stages of pollen development cart still be carried on. The lower seed setting of F1 is not mainly due to abortion of pollen.     

Effects of Temperature on Pollen Viability in Mango cv. 'Kensington'

The response of pollen development to low or high temperatureregimes was studied to determine the conditions suitable forthe formation of fertile pollen in the mango cv. 'Kensington'.The phase most sensitive to the degree and duration of temperaturestress was that from meiosis to the pre-vacuolate microspore(about 3 d duration at 25/20 °C) though vacuolated microsporeswere also sensitive to low temperature. Night temperatures below10 °C resulted in pollen grains with a low viability (<50%). A temperature between 15 and 33 °C during the phasefrom meiosis to the pre-vacuolate microspore was optimum forpollen development (70-85% pollen viability). Analysis of field records showed a linear negative correlationbetween percentage of pollen viability and number of days whichhad a mean night temperature lower than 10 °C during theperiod from meiosis to early mature stage (y = 77·7-3·4x,r² = 0·60). The temperature sensitive phase was estimatedto begin 155 degree days D = [(T_max + T_min)/2 - 10] before anthesisand to end 78 degree days before anthesis. This equation maybe useful as a means of predicting pollen viability in the fieldfrom temperature records and thus fruit set, date of maturityand yield. It may also aid in the selection of areas for growingmangoes in marginal climates.Copyright 1994, 1999 Academic Press Mangifera indica L. mango, microsporogenesis, pollen development, viability, sterility, temperature     

（普通小麦／长穗偃麦草）F1小孢子发生和雄配子体发育的细胞学特点

试验用压片法对（普通小麦／长穗偃麦草）Ｆ１小孢子发生和雄配子体发育进行了细胞学观察．观察表明：１．（普通小麦／长穗偃麦草）Ｆ１花粉母细胞减数分裂过程中出现许多异常现象;在ＰＭＣ Ｍ１出现较高频率的单价体和多价体;但是减数分裂过程能够完成,并且四分孢子的败育率较低。２．在雄配子体发育过程中可观察到具有多微核、体积不等的小孢子,并发现经过对称孢子有丝分裂产生的二胞花粉;在花粉发育的不同时期均可观察到花     

A Persisting Cellulosic Wall of Microspore Mother Cells during Microsporogenesis in Allium tuberosum Rottl. and Cyclamen persicum Mill

Light microscopic studies were carried out on the anthers ofAllium tuberosum Rottl. and Cyclamen persicum Mill. Callosedeposition is initiated within the primary wall round each microsporemother cell during early prophase of meiosis I and is of maximumthickness at the tetrad stage. The original cellulosic wall,contrary to earlier reports for other species, persists aroundthe microspore mother cells until the late tetrad stage in bothspecies. In C. persicum, it dissolves to release the callose-encasedtetrads, and in A. tuberosum, il dissolves simultaneously withcallose at the time of release of microspores. Allium tuberosum Rottl., Cyclamen persicum Mill., microsporogenesis, microspore mother cell     

Microsporogenesis in some Triploid Dactylorchid Hybrids

During meiosis in naturally occurring triploid hybrids betweenthe diploid Orchis fuchsii Druce (2n = 4O) and the two tetraploids,O. purpurella Steph. and O. praetermissa Druce (2n = 8O), thereis a regular formation of 20 bivalents and 20 bivalents. Sincethe two tetraploid species themselves show typical ‘diploid’behaviour in synapsis and fertility, they are considered tobe allopolyploids, and the hybrid pairing to be allosyndetic.The implication is therefore that both tetraploids are amphidiploidsof which O. fuchsii has been one progenitor. It is suggestedthat varieties of the polytypic diploid O. latifolia L. sec.Pugsl. may have been the other progenitors. A feature of interestin the microsporogenesis of both parents and hybrids is theclose synchronization of nuclear events in the pollen massulae,which behave as physiological units throughout meiosis and pollen-mitosis.In the triploids, although numerous dysploid nuclei are produced,none dies prematurely, probably because of mutual compensationwithin what is, in effect, a common cytoplasmic matrix.     

Persistence of sunflower crop traits and fitness in Helianthus petiolaris populations

Transgenic plants have increased interest in the study of crop gene introgression in wild populations. Genes (or transgenes) conferring adaptive advantages persist in introgressed populations, enhancing competitiveness of wild or weedy plants. This represents an ecological risk that could increase problems of weed control. Introgression of cultivar alleles into wild plant populations via crop–wild hybridisations is primarily governed by their fitness effect. To evaluate this, we studied the second generation of seven wild–crop interspecific hybrids between weedy Helianthus petiolaris and cultivated sunflower, H. annuus var. macrocarpus. The second generation comprised open‐pollinated progeny and backcrosses to the wild parent, mimicking crosses that occur in natural situations. We compared a number of morphological, life history and fitness traits. Multivariate analysis showed that the parental species H. annuus and H. petiolaris differed in a number of morphological traits, while the second hybrid generation between them was intermediate. Sunflower crop introgression lowered fitness of interspecific hybrids, but fitness parameters tended to recover in the following generation. Relative frequency of wild/weedy and introgressed plants was estimated through four generations, based on male and female parent fitness. In spite of several negative selection coefficients observed in the second generation, introgressed plants could be detected in stands of <100 weedy H. petiolaris populations. The rapid recovery of fecundity parameters leads to prediction that any trait conferring an ecological advantage will diffuse into the wild or weedy population, even if F1 hybrids have low fitness.     

Cytomorphological investigations in Oxyria digyna Hill. from the Kashmir Himalaya,India

In the present paper, detailed cytomorphological investigations in Oxyria digyna Hill. from Kashmir Himalaya—India have been reported for the first time. All the 14 investigated populations of O. digyna are diploid based on x = 7. Out of these in two populations 0–2B chromosomes have been recorded for the first time while 6 populations differed significantly in their meiotic characteristics. Meiotic abnormalities during male meiosis observed include inter PMC chromatin transfer (cytomixis). Non-synchronous disjunction of some bivalents, laggards and bridges at anaphases and telophases. Consequent to these meiotic anomalies, microsporogenesis in meiocytes is abnormal resulting in to dyads, triads and polyads with or without micronuclei. The overall effect is seen in reduced pollen fertility. Unreduced pollen grains were observed in some populations, which differed significantly in their size compared to the normal (reduced) pollen grains. It is observed that a smaller frequency of pollen grains differed morphologically in Aharbal and Yosmarg populations. The remaining eight populations showed regular meiotic course, normal microsporogenesis and high percentage of pollen fertility (95.09–99.09 %).     

A transient accumulation of poly(A)-containing RNA in the tapetum of Hyoscyamus niger during microsporogenesis

The distribution of poly(A)-containing RNA in the tapetal cells of Hyoscyamus niger during microsporogenesis was followed by in situ hybridization with [³H]poly(U) as a probe. Although no poly(A)-containing RNA accumulated in the premeiotic tapetum, [³H]poly(U) binding sites were detected in the tapetum as meiosis was completed in the microsporocytes. Accumulation of poly(A)-containing RNA in the tapetal cells reached a peak before the first haploid mitosis in the pollen grains. With the onset of tapetal senescence at the late uninucleate stage of the pollen grain, [³H]poly(U) binding sites gradually decreased and they completely disappeared in the tapetum at the binucleate pollen stage. The significance of the results is discussed, particularly with regard to the possible role of tapetum in the synthesis of informational macromolecules during microsporogenesis.     

Photosynthesis,dry matter accumulation and distribution in the wild sunflower Helianthus petiolaris and the cultivated sunflower Helianthus annuus as influenced by water deficits

Summary This study reports on the effects of water deficits on photosynthesis, plant growth and carbon allocation in the wild sunflower Helianthus petiolaris and in the cultivated sunflower Helianthus annuus grown under controlled conditions in the glasshouse. Water deficits reduced the rate of net photosynthesis and the dry weight of leaves, stems, roots and reproductive parts in both species. The root-to-shoot ratio of about 0.05 in H. petiolaris was lower than the root-to-shoot ratio of about 0.15 in H. annuus. Water stress did not affect the root-to-shoot ratio, but increased the percentage of roots at depth in H. annuus. The decrease in growth induced by water deficits was a consequence of a reduction in both leaf area production and net photosynthesis. Flowering occurred earlier in H. petiolaris than in H. annuus with a consequent earlier allocation of carbon to reproductive parts in the wild compared to the cultivated sunflower. The time to budding and flowering of either species was not altered by mild water stress, but was delayed by severe water deficits. During mild water stress carbon allocation to stems decreased, but that to reproductive parts increased. When plants were severely stressed and then rewatered the proportion af carbon allocated to leaves increased and the proportion allocated to stems decreased when compared to unstressed plants. The adaptative role of these features is discussed.     

棉花转基因恢复系杂种F1小孢子发生的细胞学观察

对转gst基因棉花恢复系浙大强恢"配制的杂种F1(三系杂交棉)的成熟花药和花粉育性进行了研究.结果表明,在花药的长、宽、鲜重和成熟花粉粒的育性方面,浙大强恢"所配的F1和保持系DES-HAB277"接近,无显著性差异,但比受体恢复系DES-HAF277"所配的F1分别提高47.7%、61.8%、28.5%和39.6%.以不育系DES-HAMS277"和保持系DES-HAB277"的花药为对照,对浙大强恢"和受体恢复系所配的F1的小孢子发生进行了细胞学观察发现,不育系小孢子败育主要发生在造孢细胞增殖期和小孢子母细胞形成期,且在减数分裂期彻底败育,不能形成四分体;受体恢复系所配的F1在小孢子发生和雄配子形成的各个发育时期都有部分败育,平均败育率约为20%,且主要发生在小孢子母细胞减数分裂期和小孢子单核期;而浙大强恢"所配的F1与保持系一样,花药的发育、小孢子的发生以及雄配子的形成均正常.研究结果从细胞形态学方面证明gst基因对三系杂交棉具有防止部分小孢子败育和提高花粉育性的功能.     

Pollen Bud Formation and its Role in Ophiorrhiza spp.

The anther in Ophiorrhiza is dithecous and tetralocular, itsdevelopment being of the dicotyledonous type. The anther wallcomprises epidermis, endothecium, middle layer and secretorytapetum. The pollen grains are tricolpate and triporate. Themicrospore nucleus undergoes division to form a vegetative nucleusand a generative nucleus and protrusions (pollen buds) are formedfrom the germ pores after the first division of the microsporenucleus. The vegetative nucleus moves into one of these budsor first breaks into a number of irregularly sized nuclear particleswhich enter into one, two or into all three buds, where theydegenerate. Then the pollen buds are separated and the generativenucleus divides inside the pollen tube to form two sperms. Ophiorrhiza harrisiana, Ophiorrhiza hirsutula, microsporogenesis, pollen buds, vegetative nucleus     

Effects of Boron Deficiency on Anther Development and Floret Fertility in Wheat (Triticum aestivum L. 'Wilgoyne')

Boron (B) deficiency limits reproductive growth more than vegetativegrowth in cereals such as wheat. The purpose of the presentstudy was to identify the critical stages of anther developmentof wheat (‘Wilgoyne’) during which B deficiencycauses a significant and irreversible decrease of floret fertilityin order to formulate timely measures for correcting or preventingthis problem. Withdrawing B from the rooting medium for 3 dbetween premeiotic interphase through meiosis to late tetrad,limited anther elongation and resulted in the loss of pollenviability. The negative effects of B withdrawal on anther lengthsuggest that the role of B in reproductive cell walls is similarto that in vegetative ones. The results indicated that as moreflorets reached meiosis within the period of B withdrawal, thelower was floret fertility and the number of grains set in awhole ear. For the whole ear, the critical period during whichB deficiency causes maximal and irreversible damage to floretfertility was about 7 d, extending from the early emergenceof the flag leaf to 2–3 d after its full emergence. Theresults suggest that there are two phases of pollen developmentsensitive to boron deficiency: the period from premeiotic interphasethrough meiosis to late tetrad was the most sensitive stageof microsporogenesis in wheat while the period from mitosis-Ito II during which starch accumulation occurred in pollen grainswas less sensitive. Copyright 2000 Annals of Botany Company Anther, boron (B) deficiency, floret fertility, Grain Set Index (GSI), pollen, wheat (‘Wilgoyne’)     

甜菜无融合生殖单体附加系M14花粉发生与发育的超微结构研究

运用透射电子显微镜技术,对甜菜无融合生殖单体附加系M14的小孢子发生、雄配子体发育以及相应的花药壁发育过程进行超微结构的观察研究,以阐明甜菜无融合生殖单体附加系M14花粉发生与发育超微结构特点以及花粉败育的时期和败育的细胞学特征.结果显示:(1)小孢子母细胞减数分裂正常,分裂期间细胞质具有明显的"细胞质改组"现象,主要表现在核糖体减少,质体、线粒体的结构发生规律性的变化,有利于孢子体向配子体的转变.M14减数分裂的胞质分裂为同时型,前期Ⅱ和中期Ⅱ形成"细胞器带";正常发育的花粉,小孢子分裂形成营养细胞和生殖细胞;生殖细胞脱离花粉壁,生殖细胞游离于营养细胞的细胞质中,最初具细胞壁,而后消失,且生殖细胞壁成分与花粉内壁成分相似.(2)三细胞型的成熟花粉含有一个营养细胞和两个具有尾突的精子;每个精子通过两层质膜与营养细胞隔开,含有一个大的精核,长尾突内含少量的细胞质以及纤丝状结构.(3)生殖细胞和精子中缺乏质体.(4)花粉的败育起始于小孢子,大部分受阻于单核-二细胞花粉期,其败育特征为花粉内液泡吞噬作用导致细胞器解体,绒毡层细胞过早解体或肥大生长致使营养供应受阻,可能是导致单核-二细胞花粉败育的主要细胞学原因.研究表明,白花甜菜第九号染色体的附加可能是导致M14大量花粉败育的遗传学因素.     

Pre-zygotic embryological characters ofPlatycrater arguta, a rare and endangered species endemic to East Asia

Platycrater arguta Sieb. et Zucc. is a rare and endangered species endemic to East Asia. It produces two floral morphs viz. bisexual and male flowers. For bisexual flowers, simultaneous cytokinesis in the microsporocyte meiosis leads to a tetrahedral tetrad. The mature pollen grain is shed at 2-cell stage. The young anther wall is composed of epidermis, endothecium that develops fibrous thickenings at maturity, 1–2 middle layers and tapetum. The tapetum with uninucleate to binucleate cells, disintegrates in situ (glandular tapetum), yet in a small percentage of the anthers (about 37.6%), the tapetum does not disintegrate, causing complete male sterility. The ovules are anatropous, unitegmic, tenuinucellar and the formation of the embryo sac follows the monosporic, Polygonum type. Antipodal cells are lacking in the mature embryo sacs. Before fertilization, two polar nuclei fuse into a secondary nucleus. The formation of microsporangial wall, microsporogenesis and male gametogenesis in male flowers are analogous to those in the bisexual. Prezygotic embryological characters ofP. arguta were reported for the first time, revealing that its endangerment is correlated with the abortion of pollen of a part but not to the female development that is normal.     

Characterization of three male-sterile mutants of Arabidopsis thaliana exhibiting alterations in meiosis

Male-sterile mutants are being studied to deepen our understanding of the complex processes of microsporogenesis and microgametogenesis. Due to difficulties associated with isolating the mutated gene, there is currently very little molecular information on the defects responsible for male sterility. As a first step in utilizing male-sterile mutants to better understand the bio-chemical and molecular processes that control pollen development, we have characterized a number of Arabidopsis thaliana lines that were generated by seed transformation and exhibit male sterility. We report here the identification and characterization of three male-sterile A. thaliana lines, all of which are tagged with T-DNA and show aberrant meiosis. A detailed cytochemical study was conducted on these lines to better understand the timing and nature of each mutation and to investigate how these mutations affect subsequent steps of pollen development. All three mutants undergo apparently normal morphogenesis until the onset of meiosis. In one line (6492) the mutation is most notable at the tetrad stage when up to eight microspores can be seen in each callose-encased tetrad. The resulting mutant microspores are of variable sizes and contain different amounts of DNA. Two other mutants (7219 and 7593) possess many common features, including variable developmental pathways, failure to produce callose, production of vacuolate, coenocytic (multi-nucleate) cells that are surrounded by persistent microsporocyte walls, and asynchronous patterns of development. Unlike the situation in wild-type plants, where developmental stages are correlated with bud length, such correlations are almost impossible with these two mutants. The sporogenous tissue within all three of these mutant lines collapses prior to anthesis.     

A COMPARATIVE LIGHT- AND ELECTRON-MICROSCOPIC STUDY OF MICROSPOROGENESIS IN MALE STERILE (MS,) AND MALE FERTILE SOYBEANS (GLYCINE MAX (L.) MERR.)

A comparative study of microsporogenesis in fertile and in male sterile (ms₁) soybean plants (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) was conducted by using various microscopic techniques. Once the developmental pattern for fertile microsporogenesis was established, it was compared with the developmental pattern in sterile plants to determine the time of microsporogenesis breakdown. Sterility of the ms₁ mutant is caused by failure of cytokinesis after telophase II. The four nuclei resulting from meiosis become enclosed in a single-celled structure, termed a coenocytic microspore. These microspores develop a pollen-like wall and become engorged with lipid and starch reserves. Coenocytic microspores usually degenerate after engorgement. This study of fertile and sterile (ms₁) microsporogenesis has shown that nuclear and cytoplasmic events must occur at precise times for the successful development of 1n pollen grains from 2n sporogenous cells. Any disruption during this process leads to sterility.