Diversity and evolution of microsporogenesis in Bromeliaceae

In this study, we explore the features of microsporogenesis in Bromeliaceae and, in particular, the diversity and evolution of additional callose deposits. Cytokinesis type, cell wall formation, tetrad form and patterns of additional callose deposition after intersporal wall formation were studied in 12 species of Bromeliaceae (each from a different genus) presenting four different aperture patterns. Microsporogenesis is highly conserved, with successive cytokinesis, centrifugal cell plate formation and predominantly tetragonal and decussate tetrads, as in many monocots, but five different patterns of additional callose deposition were recorded. The optimization of patterns of additional callose deposition on the phylogeny of Bromeliaceae reveals convergences. Additional callose deposition is a variable and labile feature of microsporogenesis in Bromeliaceae and is linked, to some extent, to aperture pattern. © 2014 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2014, 176 , 36–45.     

Successive microsporogenesis in eudicots, with particular reference to Berberidaceae (Ranunculales)

The eudicot clade of angiosperms is characterised by simultaneous microsporogenesis and tricolpate pollen apertures. Successive microsporogenesis, where a distinct dyad stage occurs after the first meiotic division, is relatively rare in eudicots although it occurs in many early branching angiosperms including monocots. An extensive literature survey shows that successive microsporogenesis has arisen independently at least six times in eudicots, in five different orders, including Berberidaceae (Ranunculales). Microsporogenesis and pollen apertures were examined here using light and transmission electron microscopy in eleven species representing six genera of Berberidaceae. Successive microsporogenesis is a synapomorphy for the sister taxa Berberis and Mahonia (and possibly also Ranzania), the remaining genera are simultaneous. Callose wall formation in Berberis and Mahonia is achieved by centripetal furrowing, though centrifugal cell plates are more usual for this microsporogenesis type. This discrepancy could reflect the fact that the successive type in Berberidaceae is derived from the simultaneous type, and centripetal furrowing has been retained. Eudicots with successive microsporogenesis usually produce tetragonal or decussate tetrads, though occasional tetrahedral or irregular tetrads in Berberis and Mahonia indicate that the switch from simultaneous to successive division is incomplete or “leaky”. In contrast, linear tetrads produced by successive microsporogenesis in Asclepiadoideae (Apocynaceae s.l.) are the result of a highly specialised developmental pathway leading to the production of pollinia. Pollen in successive eudicots is dispersed as monads, dyads, tetrads, and as single grains in pollinia. Apertures are diverse, and patterns include spiraperturate, clypeate, irregular, monocolpate, diporate and inaperturate. It is possible that successive microsporogenesis, although rare, potentially occurs in other eudicots, for example, in species where pollen is inaperturate.     

The influence of tetrad shape and intersporal callose wall formation on pollen aperture pattern ontogeny in two eudicot species

Background and Aims

In flowering plants, microsporogenesis is accompanied by various types of cytoplasmic partitioning (cytokinesis). Patterns of male cytokinesis are suspected to play a role in the diversity of aperture patterns found in pollen grains of angiosperms. The relationships between intersporal wall formation, tetrad shape and pollen aperture pattern ontogeny are studied.

Methods

A comparative analysis of meiosis and aperture distribution was performed within tetrads in two triporate eudicot species with contrasting aperture arrangements within their tetrads [Epilobium roseum (Onagraceae) and Paranomus reflexus (Proteaceae)].

Key Results and Conclusions

Intersporal wall formation is a two-step process in both species. Cytokinesis is first achieved by the formation of naked centripetal cell plates. These naked cell plates are then covered by additional thick, localized callose deposits that differ in location between the two species. Apertures are finally formed in areas in which additional callose is deposited on the cell plates. The recorded variation in tetrad shape is correlated with variations in aperture pattern, demonstrating the role of cell partitioning in aperture pattern ontogeny.     

Multiple developmental pathways leading to a single morph: monosulcate pollen (examples from the Asparagales)

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Early developmental events in microsporogenesis are known to play a role in pollen morphology: variation in cytokinesis type, cell wall formation, tetrad shape and aperture polarity are responsible for pollen aperture patterning. Despite the existence of other morphologies, monosulcate pollen is one of the most common aperture types in monocots, and is also considered as the ancestral condition in this group. It is known to occur from either a successive or a simultaneous cytokinesis. In the present study, the developmental sequence of microsporogenesis is investigated in several species of Asparagales that produce such monosulcate pollen, representing most families of this important monocot clade. METHODS: The developmental pathway of microsporogenesis was investigated using light transmission and epifluorescence microscopy for all species studied. Confocal microscopy was used to confirm centripetal cell plate formation. KEY RESULTS: Microsporogenesis is diverse in Asparagales, and most variation is generally found between families. It is confirmed that the whole higher Asparagales clade has a very conserved microsporogenesis, with a successive cytokinesis and centrifugal cell plate formation. Centripetal cell wall formation is described in Tecophilaeaceae and Iridaceae, a feature that had so far only been reported for eudicots. CONCLUSIONS: Monosulcate pollen can be obtained from several developmental pathways, leading thus to homoplasy in the monosulcate character state. Monosulcate pollen should not therefore be considered as the ancestral state unless it is produced through the ancestral developmental pathway. The question about the ancestral developmental pathway leading to monosulcy remains open.     

Release of developmental constraints on tetrad shape is confirmed in inaperturate pollen of Potamogeton

Background and Aims

Microsporogenesis in monocots is often characterized by successive cytokinesis with centrifugal cell plate formation. Pollen grains in monocots are predominantly monosulcate, but variation occurs, including the lack of apertures. The aperture pattern can be determined by microsporogenesis features such as the tetrad shape and the last sites of callose deposition among the microspores. Potamogeton belongs to the early divergent Potamogetonaceae and possesses inaperturate pollen, a type of pollen for which it has been suggested that there is a release of the constraint on tetrad shape. This study aimed to investigate the microsporogenesis and the ultrastructure of pollen wall in species of Potamogeton in order to better understand the relationship between microsporogenesis features and the inaperturate condition.

Methods

The microsporogenesis was investigated using both light and epifluorescence microscopy. The ultrastructure of the pollen grain was studied using transmission electron microscopy.

Key Results

The cytokinesis is successive and formation of the intersporal callose wall is achieved by centrifugal cell plates, as a one-step process. The microspore tetrads were tetragonal, decussate, T-shaped and linear, except in P. pusillus, which showed less variation. This species also showed a callose ring in the microsporocyte, and some rhomboidal tetrads. In the mature pollen, the thickening observed in a broad area of the intine was here interpreted as an artefact.

Conclusions

The data support the view that there is a correlation between the inaperturate pollen production and the release of constraint on tetrad shape. However, in P. pusillus the tetrad shape may be constrained by a callose ring. It is also suggested that the lack of apertures in the pollen of Potamogeton may be due to the lack of specific sites on which callose deposition is completed. Moreover, inaperturate pollen of Potamogeton would be better classified as omniaperturate.Key words: Alismatales, callose, microsporogenesis, pollen aperture, Potamogeton illinoensis, P. polygonus, P. pusillus, tetrad shape     

Ultrastructure of microsporogenesis and microgametogenesis in Campsis radicans (L.) Seem. (Bignoniaceae)

In the present study, microsporogenesis, microgametogenesis and pollen wall ontogeny in Campsis radicans (L.) Seem. were studied from sporogenous cell stage to mature pollen using transmission electron microscopy. To observe the ultrastructural changes that occur in sporogenous cells, microspores and pollen through progressive developmental stages, anthers at different stages of development were fixed and embedded in Araldite. Microspore and pollen development in C. radicans follows the basic scheme in angiosperms. Microsporocytes secrete callose wall before meiotic division. Meiocytes undergo meiosis and simultaneous cytokinesis which result in the formation of tetrads mostly with a tetrahedral arrangement. After the development of free and vacuolated microspores, respectively, first mitotic division occurs and two-celled pollen grain is produced. Pollen grains are shed from the anther at two-celled stage. Pollen wall formation in C. radicans starts at tetrad stage by the formation of exine template called primexine. By the accumulation of electron dense material, produced by microspore, in the special places of the primexine, first of all protectum then columellae of exine elements are formed on the reticulate-patterned plasma membrane. After free microspore stage, exine development is completed by the addition of sporopollenin from tapetum. Formation of intine layer of pollen wall starts at the late vacuolated stage of pollen development and continue through the bicellular pollen stage.     

中亚鸢尾(Iris blowdowill)小孢子发生和雄配子体形成

选取中亚鸢尾为试材,通过石蜡切片的方法,对其小孢子发生和雄配子体发育进行了观察研究。中亚鸢尾花药壁发育方式为双子叶型,绒毡层为腺质;小孢子母细胞减数分裂时胞质分裂即有连续型,也有同时型。小孢子为四面体型和左右对称型,成熟花粉粒为二细胞。     

海桐大、小孢子发育及雌、雄配子体形成的研究

利用常规石蜡制片法研究了海桐大、小孢子发生及雌、雄配子体发育的过程。结果显示:(1)小孢子母细胞减数分裂过程中的胞质分裂为连续型,四分孢子为以四面体形为主,四分孢子后期部分小孢子壁皱缩;(2)花药壁由4层结构组成,由外到内为表皮、药室内壁、中层和绒毡层;(3)海桐具多个胚珠,单珠被,薄珠心,胚珠类型为倒生胚珠。大孢子母细胞减数分裂主要形成线形排列的4个大孢子,还具有少有的十字形排列,功能大孢子位于合点端;(4)胚囊发育属单孢型的蓼型,成熟的雌配子体为四细胞五核胚囊。     

Unusual diversity in microsporogenesis inVernonia cinerea

Diverse types of tetrads (1+2+1, decussate, 3+1, and tetrahedral), simultaneous and successive divisions, and cytokinesis by both plate formation and furrowing were observed during microsporogenesis inVernonia cinerea (Asteraceae).     

Microsporogenesis and megasporogenesis in Sinofranchetia (Lardizabalaceae)

Sinofranchetia Hemsl. (Lardizabalaceae) is a monotypic genus endemic to China. A recent combined analysis of molecular sequence data and morphology suggested that Sinofranchetia should be placed in tribe Sinofranchetieae. Embryology of taxa can be complementary to molecular phylogenetics and of special value at the genus level; however, embryological characters are completely unknown in Sinofranchetia. Here we characterize microsporogenesis and megasporogenesis in the male flowers and female flowers of Sinofranchetia, and provide embryological characters of the genus. In microspore development cytokinesis is simultaneous, the tetrads are tetrahedral and isolateral, and the mature pollens are two-celled and tricolpate (sometimes three-celled in the sterile anther of female flowers). Dicotyledonous-type and basic wall formations are found in Sinofranchetia, the tapetum is glandular. Megasporogenesis is successive, the female gametophyte of the Polygonum type. Anthers in female flowers degenerate at the tetrad stage, and some anthers produce two-celled or three-celled pollen. The newly revealed embryological characters are the basic type of anther wall formation, isolateral microspore tetrads, and both the epidermis and the parietal cell being involved in the formation of the crassinucellate ovules. The embryological peculiarities in Lardizabalaceae are discussed.     

大叶补血草的大、小孢子发生与雌、雄配子体的发育

系统地报道了大叶补血草(Limonium gmelinii (Willd.) Kuntze)的大、小孢子发生和雌、雄配子体的形成发育过程。主要结果如下：(1)小孢子母细胞减数分裂过程中的胞质分裂为同时型,四分孢子多为正四面体形, 也有少数为左右对称形;(2)成熟花粉为三细胞型,具3个萌发孔;(3)花药壁由5层细胞组成,最外层为表皮,其内分别为药室内壁、中层、绒毡层,绒毡层为变形型,花药壁的发育属于基本型;(4)大叶补血草的雌蕊由5心皮合生,子房1室,基生胎座,胚珠1个,拳卷型,双珠被,厚珠心;(5)孢原细胞发生于珠心表皮下,经一次平周分裂,形成造孢细胞,由造孢细胞直接发育成大孢子母细胞,大孢子母细胞减数分裂形成4个大孢子呈直线排列,合点端大孢子具功能,属于典型的蓼型胚囊发育。     

Sporogenesis and Gametogenesis of Endangered Adenophora lobophylla Hong (Campanulaceae)

Reported in this paper are the microsporogenesis, megasporogenesis and the development of male and female gametophytes of the endangered species Adenophora lobophylla. The anther is four-sporangiate with its wall composed of four layers: epidermis, fibrous endothelium, middle layer and glandular tapetum of binucleate cells. The cytokinesis of microspore mother cell in meiosis is simultaneous, and tetrads are tetrahedral. Pollen grains are 2-celled at the dispersal stage. Ovule is anatropous, unitegmic and tenuinucellate with a hypodermal archesporial cell developing directly as the megaspore mother cell which undergoes meiotic division and then forms a linear tetrad. The embryo sac is of Polygonum type. The polar nuclei fuse before fertilization. An endothelium differentiates when the uninucleate embryo sac forms. Comparative studies were made with the closely related and widely distributed species A. potaninii. No differences between them were found. No obstacle to sexual reproduction in this endangered species was observed. As a conclusion, no endangering factors were found to influence the sporogenesis and gametogenesis of A. lobophylla. According to our observision and the references on embryological studies of the Campanulaceae(s. l. ), there is no evident differentiation in sporogenesis and gametogenesis in this family.     

濒危植物裂叶沙参的大小孢子发生及雌雄配子体发育

本文以近缘广布种泡沙参为对照,对濒危物种裂叶沙参进行了大小孢子发生和雌雄配子体发育的研究。裂叶沙参的药壁发育为双子叶型,绒毡层为腺质型,细胞含两核。小孢子母细胞在减数分裂过程中胞质分裂为同时型。小孢子四分体为四面体型,成熟花粉粒为2-细胞型。胚珠倒生,单珠被,薄珠心,大孢子四分体为线形排列,胚囊发育为蓼型。成熟胚囊中两极核在受精之前融合为一个大的次生核。当胚囊发育至单核胚囊时,珠被的最内层细胞发育为珠被绒毡层。濒危植物裂叶沙参在大、小孢子发生及雌、雄配子体的发育过程中,未见有败育及其它异常现象;与对照种泡沙参相比,也未见有差异,这说明裂叶沙参的致濒原因不在于有性生殖过程。     

Pollen ontogeny in Magnolia liliflora Desr.

Pollen ontogeny contributes significantly to the evolutionary analysis and the understanding of the reproductive biology of seed plants. Although much research on basal angiosperms is being carried out there are still many important features about which little is known in these taxa, such as the sporophytic structures related to pollen development and morphology. In this study, pollen development of Magnolia liliflora was analyzed by optical microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The aim of this paper was to supply data that will help characterize basal angiosperms. Microsporogenesis is of the successive type, so that tetrads are decussate or isobilateral. The callosic walls form by the centripetal growth of furrows. The secretory tapetum develops orbicules, which start to form in the microspore tetrad stage. Pollen grains are shed at the bicellular stage. The exine wall has a granular infratectum. Ultrastructural changes observed in the cytoplasm of microspores and tapetal cells are related to the development of the pollen grain wall and orbicules. Centrifugal cell plates are more usual for the successive type of microsporogenesis. The presence of the successive type of microsporogenesis with callosic walls formed by the centripetal growth of furrows could reflect the fact that the successive type in Magnoliaceae is derived from the simultaneous type. The granular infratectum of the ectexine and the presence of orbicules could indicate that this species is one of the most evolved of the genus.     

核桃楸的胚胎学研究（Ⅰ）——小孢子发生及雄配子体发育

通过石蜡制片技术对小孢子的发生和雄配子体发育过程进行了系统的研究。结果表明：花药含有4个花粉囊;花粉囊壁包括表皮、纤维层、中层、绒毡层;花药壁发育属基本型,腺质绒毡层,中层和绒毡层在花粉发育过程中逐渐解体,成熟的花粉囊只保留表皮和纤维层。小孢子母细胞减数分裂中,细胞质分裂是同时型。四分体排列方式为四面体型,四分体解体产生单核花粉粒,成熟花粉为2-细胞型。     

越南篦齿苏铁小孢子发生及其系统学意义

运用常规石蜡切片方法,结合显微荧光技术对越南篦齿苏铁Cycas elongata 小孢子发生和花粉个体发育进行了研究。结果表明：其小孢子叶球5月中下旬开始萌动,小孢子囊着生在小孢子叶远轴面,且3-5小孢子囊以辐射状排列方式聚生成聚合囊。小孢子囊壁由6-7层细胞组成,包括表皮、中层及绒毡层。绒毡层来源于成熟造孢组织的外围细胞,其退化形式为分泌型。6月中旬,小孢子母细胞进入减数分裂I,至6月下旬形成四分体。母细胞减数分裂后胞质分裂的方式与其他苏铁类植物不同,具有连续型与同时型两种类型。7月中旬,小孢子经过2次有丝分裂后,形成3细胞的成熟花粉粒。7月下旬进入散粉状态。在花粉发育过程中,母细胞内淀粉粒的积累及其壁上胼胝质的沉积均呈现规律性变化。     

Microspore development in Podostemaceae-Podostemoideae, with implications on the characterization of the subfamilies

Subfamilies Podostemoideae and Tristichoideae of the aquatic flowering plant family Podostemaceae are conventionally characterized by a different mode of microsporogenesis. Simultaneous meiotic division into the four microspores is found in Tristichoideae, successive meiotic division is said to be typical of Podostemoideae. In contrast, the results of the present study reveal that in subfamily Podostemoideae both modes of microsporogenesis occur. This is exemplified by the early pollen development of two neotropical species: Apinagia latifolia and Marathrum rubrum. Successive versus simultaneous meiotic cytokinesis are thus not differential characters of the two subfamilies. It is worthy to note that successive cytokinesis occurs in a family (Podostemaceae) of the Eudicots which are characterized by simultaneous cytokinesis. The occurrence of Ubisch bodies (orbicules) in several species of Apinagia and Marathrum parallels the echinate ornamentation of the pollen grains.     

Microsporogenesis and systematics of Aristolochiaceae

Within Aristolochiaceae, a secretory tapetum and orbicules are ubiquitous, but both simultaneous and successive types of microsporogenesis occur. Simultaneous cytokinesis is apparently plesiomorphic within the order Piperales, in which Aristolochiaceae are now placed. Successive microsporogenesis was found only in species of Aristolochia confined to a crown clade in the proposed phylogeny of this genus. In contrast to many other taxa, within Aristolochiaceae there is no strict relationship between microsporogenesis type and tetrad configuration, which is strongly influenced by spindle orientation, especially during meiosis II. There is also no direct correlation between microsporogenesis type and the aperture of mature pollen grains.     

珍稀濒危植物巴东木莲胚胎学研究

对巴东木莲(Manglietia patungensis Hu)的花发育以及胚胎发育过程进行了系统研究。巴东木莲花顶生,花器官头年年底开始分化到第二年3月分化出花被、雌雄蕊群直至6月发育成熟。雌蕊成熟时胚珠倒生,双珠被,厚珠心,大孢子四分体线形排列,合点端发育成功能大孢子,珠孔端的3个退化,大孢子为单孢子发生型,胚囊发育方式属蓼型;雄蕊花药外侧壁玫瑰红色,内侧有4个白色花粉囊,绒毡层有1层多核细胞,小孢子四分体排列方式多为左右对称形和交叉形,四面体形,偶为T字形和线形,成熟花粉粒为二细胞型。在巴东木莲花发育和大、小孢子发生以及雌、雄配子体形成过程中未见异常现象,因此笔者认为该物种的花器官发育以及雌、雄配子体发育并不构成导致该物种濒危的因素。     

毛百合小孢子发生和雄配子体发育过程的解剖学研究

在显微水平上对毛百合小孢子发生和雄配子体的发育过程与不同发育阶段花蕾的外部形态的相关性进行了研究.结果显示:毛百合每个花药具4个花粉囊,小孢子母细胞减数分裂属连续型,小孢子在四分体中的排列属左右对称型,也有少数四面体型.成熟花粉粒属2-细胞型,并有1个萌发沟.花粉囊壁由4层细胞构成,即表皮、药室内壁、中层、绒毡层.绒毡层细胞为腺质,出现多核现象.研究发现花蕾大小与小孢子各发育时期密切相关.