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.     

Female reproductive development and pollen tube growth in diploid genotypes of<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Solanum cardiophyllum</Emphasis> Lindl.

We have characterized female gametophyte (megagametophyte) development and the kinetics of pollen tube growth in self-pollinated diploid genotypes (2n=2x=24) of Solanum cardiophyllum Lindl. that show normal seed formation. In this species megasporogenesis and megagametogenesis give rise to a female gametophyte of the Polygonum type composed of two synergids, an egg cell, a binucleated central cell and three antipodals; however, asynchronous abnormalities resembling mechanisms that prevail during the formation of second division restitution gametes were observed. In self-pollinated pistils at least 1–2% of germinating pollen tubes were able to reach the megagametophyte 60–84 hours after pollination (hap). Although the egg cell acquired a zygote-like morphology 60–84 hap, division of the primary endosperm nucleus was only observed 84 hap. The analysis of genetic variability in full-sib progeny confirmed that seeds are derived from sexual reproduction. These observations suggest that diploid genotypes of S. cardiophyllum can serve as an ideal system to genetically investigate true seed formation in a tuber-bearing Solanum species.     

Morphogenetic plastid migration and microtubule organization during megasporogenesis inIsoetes

Summary The large megasporocytes ofIsoetes provide an exceptional system for studying microtubule dynamics in monoplastidic meiosis where plastid polarity assures coordination of plastid and nuclear division by the intimate association of MTOCs with plastids. Division and migration of the plastid in prophase establishes the tetrahedrally arranged cytoplasmic domains of the future spore tetrad and the four plastid-MTOCs serve as focal points of a unique quadripolar microtubule system (QMS). The QMS is a dynamic structure which functions in plastid deployment and contributes directly to development of both first and second division spindles. The nucleation of microtubules at discrete plastid-MTOCs is compared with centrosomal nucleation of microtubules in animal cells where growth of microtubules involves dynamic instability.Abbreviations AMS axial microtubule system - MTOC microtubule organizing center - N nucleus - QMS quadripolar microtubule system - P plastid - PPB preprophase band of microtubules     

濒危植物香木莲的胚胎学研究

对香木莲（Manglietia aromatica）的大、小孢子发生以及雌、雄配子体发育过程进行了研究,并结合已有的资料归纳出木链属的胚胎学特征。香木链花药四囊型,腺质绒毡层有1-2层细胞,小孢子形成时胞质分裂方式为修饰性同时型,小孢子四分体排列方式为交叉型,有时为左右对型,成熟花粉粒为二细胞型。胚珠倒生,厚珠心,双珠被,大孢子四分体呈直线排列,功能大孢子位于合点端。胚囊发育属于蓼型。木莲属的胚胎学特征与木兰属、含笑属、鹅掌揪属等植物的胚胎学特征基本相同,都属于较原始的被子植物胚胎学类型。     

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。     

濒危植物南方红豆杉大孢子发生和雌配子体发育

南方红豆杉(Taxus chinensis var.mairei)为第三纪孑遗树种,也是我国Ⅰ级保护植物。本文通过对其大孢子发生及雌配子发育过程进行细胞学观察发现,南方红豆杉胚珠多为直立单生,偶见1个苞片内着生2个胚珠;大孢子母细胞减数分裂形成4个大孢子,其中3个退化,仅位于合点端的大孢子发育为功能性大孢子;功能性大孢子经过有丝分裂形成256个游离核;颈卵器单生,2~6个;从传粉到受精约2个月;有16个原胚自由核,原胚为标准型;简单多胚和裂生多胚并存,胚发育不同步。因南方红豆杉胚珠直立单生、游离核数目、传粉到受精间隔期、原胚游离核数目等特征与松科差异较大,而与广义柏科具有许多相似之处,故我们支持将红豆杉科置于广义柏科之下的观点。此外,本研究结果还表明,南方红豆杉大孢子发生与雌配子体发育正常,不是致其濒危的主要原因。     

用酶解方法观察卷丹的贝母型胚囊发育过程

酶法分离技术作为观察胚囊发育的一种简捷技术已经应用于不少植物。然而,百合科植物迄今未见类似报道。最近,作者以卷丹为实验材料观察了大孢子发生和雌配子体发育,表明这一技术对于具有贝母型四孢子胚囊发育特点的百合属植物是同样适用的。     

Comparison of FDR- and SDR-derived tetraploid progeny from 2x×4x crosses using haploids of Solanum tuberosum L. that produce mixed modes of 2n eggs

 The relationship between heterozygosity and heterosis in tetraploid potato (Solanum tuberosum subsp. tuberosum L., 2n=4x=48) was examined in a series of first-division restitution (FDR)- and second-division restitution (SDR)-derived tetraploid subpopulations. The subpopulations were constructed using two 2n egg-producing, mixed-mode haploids (2n=2x=24) crossed to three tetraploid (2x= 4x=48) potato clones. Half-tetrad analysis using a co-dominant electrophoretic marker (Pgm-2), which is closely linked to the centromere, discriminated between FDR- and SDR-derived 4x progeny. The FDR:SDR ratio of the 4x progeny observed was dependent upon the haploid parent used in the 2x×4x cross. Field studies were conducted between 1992 and 1996 to compare the yield and specific gravity of the two subpopulations and their parents from three crosses. There was no difference in the total tuber yield or specific gravity between the FDR- and SDR-subpopulations based upon family means, despite the expectation that FDR-derived progeny would transmit a greater portion of the genome’s heterozygosity intact than SDR-derived progeny. The 4x parent in each family had a higher yield than either 4x progeny subpopulation. Inbreeding, as a consequence of the haploidization process and a lack of genetic diversity, may have negated any advantage of the FDR-derived progenies over the SDR-derived progenies. Received: 14 April 1998 / Accepted: 12 May 1998     

凹叶厚朴大、小孢子发生和雌、雄配子体发育的研究

凹叶厚朴花药四囊型,腺质绒毡层有1-2层细胞,小孢子形成时胞质分裂方式为修饰性同时型．小孢子四分体排列方式为左右对称型,成熟花粉粒为二细胞型。四分体和小孢子在发生时有不规则变形。子房单心皮。心皮腹面壁上着生2个胚珠,胚珠倒生型,厚珠心,双珠被;抱原细胞一个,并且自表皮下第2层细胞处分化。胚囊发育为单孢蓼型。凹叶厚朴的胚胎学特征与木兰科其它植物的胚胎学特征基本相同,属于较原始的被子植物胚胎类型。在凹叶厚朴大、小孢子发生和雌、雄配子体发育过程中存在部分败育现象。本文初步探讨了凹叶厚朴濒危的生殖生物学原因。