Hormonal regulation of cotton ovule and fiber growth: Effects of bromodeoxyuridine,AMO-1618 and p-chlorophenoxyisobutyric acid

The effects of 5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine (BUdR, thymidine analogue), AMO-1618 (2-isopropyl-4-dimethylamino-5-methylphenyl-1-piperidine carboxylate methyl chloride), a growth retardant, and p-chlorophenoxyisobutyric acid (PCIB, an antiauxin) on growth (dry weight increase) and fiber development in unfertilized cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) ovules grown in vitro have been studied. BUdR (5 M) causes about 70% inhibition of fiber production, with little effect on ovule growth, if applied during the first 6 d of culture in the presence of GA₃ and IAA. AMO-1618, when used with GA₃ alone, causes only a small reduction in both dry weight and fiber production, but when used with IAA alone reduces both fiber production and dry weight, the effect on the latter being predominant. In the presence of both IAA and GA₃, AMO-1618 causes a small decrease in fiber production but a major decrease in dry weight. PCIB completely inhibits fiber growth but has little effect on dry weight, especially when GA₃ is present. These results indicate that GA₃ mainly promotes ovule growth while IAA is largerly responsible for fiber growth.Abbreviations AMO-1618 2-isopropyl-4-dimethylamino-5-methylphenyl-1-piperidine carboxylate methyl chloride - BUdR 5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine - GA₃ gibberellic acid - IAA indole-3-acetic acid - PCIB p-chlorophenoxyisobutyric acid - TFU total fiber units     

Development and morphology of the gynoecium and nutlet in two South-American Bulbostylis (Cyperaceae) species

The anatomy and ontogeny of the gynoecium and nutlets of two Bulbostylis species with different micro-morphology, Bulbostylis capillaris sensu Barros and B. major, were analyzed. The specific aim of this work was to identify which part of the pericarp determines the differences in the nutlet surface between these two species. We found that pre-fertilization development is the same in both species, with differences between species appearing only after fertilization. In the nutlet of B. major, the exocarp forms a tuberculate primary sculpture that has nipple-like protuberances consisting of one conoidal silica body per cell, whereas the secondary sculpture is micro-granulose and is constituted by the cuticle. In the nutlet of B. capillaris, the primary sculpture is granulose and is formed by the presence of starch granules in the exocarp that do not degrade, whereas the secondary sculpture is smooth.     

Lifetime fecundity and floral variation in Tuberaria guttata (Cistaceae), a Mediterranean annual

In Tuberaria guttata, petal length, ovule number, and seeds per capsule raised steeply with increasing plant size (respectively, in the ranges 6-11 mm, 40-100, and 20-80), while the number of stamens varied relatively little (14-20). All flowers set fruit, and the rates of embryo abortion were independent of plant size and low on average. Individual fecundities had a markedly right-skewed frequency distribution (in the ranges 1-20 capsules and 20-1500 seeds per plant), which issued not only from plant size and flower production being positively correlated, but also from per-flower ovule numbers being directly proportional to plant size. Correlated variation of plant and ovary sizes amplified among-plant inequalities regarding fecundity; allowed larger plants to set ca. 50% more seed than expected on the basis of flower number only; and caused the slope of the size-fecundity relationship to be considerably steeper (at the population level) than if ovule number was a fixed trait. Corolla, ovary and androecium plasticity in Tuberaria are discussed in terms of environmental effects and developmental constraints.     

Orientation and withdrawal of pollination drops in Cupressaceae s. l. (Coniferales)

Pollination in the Cupressaceae is studied ex situ, focused on orientation and withdrawal of pollination drops. Orientation of pollination drops is a constant feature in most taxa studied and important for pollen capture. Conspecific pollen causes a withdrawal of pollination drops, varying in time among species from 8 to 24 min, but with little variation within species. Pollination drops of each tested Cupressaceae taxon are also withdrawn when pollinated with foreign, but Cupressaceous pollen. However, they remain unchanged and are not withdrawn immediately when pollinated with pollen of other seed plants. The results clearly indicate that the time for the total withdrawal of pollination drops is strongly influenced by the evolutionary distance of the taxa being involved in the pollination process. Among closely related taxa the withdrawal is much more rapid than in distantly related ones. This points to an effective recognition system regulating the withdrawal of pollination drops, probably controlled by the nucellus. This recognition system can be regarded as an important preadaption for the evolution of a self-incompatibility mechanism. The withdrawal of pollination drops is thus not exclusively a physically induced process as suggested in some earlier studies. Pollination drops of several ovules can fuse to form a large common one, perhaps increasing by this way successful pollen capture.     

Effect of pollination intensity on fruit and seed set in cacao (Theobroma cacao L.)

We studied the functional relationship between pollination intensity and fruit survival as well as the number of seeds per pod in the tropical tree Theobroma cacao L. on a Forastero Upper-Amazon clone (UPA 409) in Ivory Coast. Cutting the style 24 h after pollination allowed for counting the number of pollen grains deposited on a stigma without affecting fruit set and seed development. Forty-three pollen grains were necessary to reach 50% of maximum fruit set 28 days after pollination. Above 115 pollen grains, the proportion of developing ovaries reached a maximum of 88% 28 days after pollination and 75% at maturity. With fewer than 238 pollen grains per stigma, there was a close relationship between pollination intensity and number of seeds per pod; the pollenseed ratio increased from 1.61 to 3.81 for PI increasing from 30 to 238 pollen grains. For higher pollination intensities, the average number of seeds per pod reached a maximum of 58. The relationship between pollination intensity and seed content was modelled. Results are consistent with the hypothesis that ovules attracted pollen tubes in a similar way regardless of whether or not they had already been reached by another pollen tube.     

The Ovule Structure and Development of Male and Female Gametophytes in Araentotaxus

The ovules of Amentotaxus are 2–2.5 cm in length and about 1.3 cm in width. Aril, which contains about 14—17 secretory canals in transection, is com- posed of parenchyma. The vascular bundles are absent in aril. The integument is com- posed of ceils of outer, middle, and inner regions. The middle region of the integument is about 10 cells in thickness. The Integuments are basally parenchymatous before pollination and then the cells become elongating and thickenning in middle region after pollination. Finally the micropylar canal is forced to be closed. In addition, there are 8–14 vascular bundles with centripetal xylem arranged in a ring in integument. One of the most remarkable feature of the ovule is that there is a pollen chamber formed at the top of nucellus before pollination. At this time because epidermis of nucellus does not disintegrate, the pollen chamber looks like conical in longitudinal section. After pollination the pollen chamber was becoming closed due to elongation and thickenning of cells in the middle region of integument. At the base of ovule there are 4–5 pairs of bracts which contain a larger secretory cavity and a centripetal xylem in a vascular bundle. It is interesting that wax layer of 30–40 μm thick is covered on the surface of integument, aril and bract. Usually 3–4 microsporangia which are hypodermal in origin, occur in abaxial side of a microsporophyll. In some cases the tapetum is partly enlarging and extruding into the developing tetrahedral tetrads. The mature pollen comprises an antheridial initial and a tube cell. About 20 pollen grains may germinate in the same ovule. The megaspore divide successively 8 times to produce 256 nuclei and then cell wall formation takes place. The female gametophyte is about 830–908 μm in length and 500 μm in width. The archegonia are single, terminal, and 6–7 in number. The mature archgonium, with ventral canal nucleus, is about 430 μm in length and 80–108 μm in width. The female gametophyte is often growing against the upper part of the nuceilus and makes the cells of the latter gradually to be disintegrated. The ovule construction of Amentotaxus is in some degree similar to that of Ginkgo in having a comparatively well developed pollen chamber. The mature pollen of Amentotaxus, which is similar to that of Cephalotaxus is composed of 2-cells. In sum, Amentotaxus perhaps is the most primitive genus in Taxaceae and it is closely related to Cephalotaxus.     

穗花杉的胚珠结构与雌、雄配子体的发育

穗花杉胚珠结构最显著的特点之一是,珠心顶部有一比较发达的贮粉室。珠孔道的闭塞主要是由珠被中层区细胞形成的;珠被维管束8—14个。假种皮中具14—17个粘液分泌道。小孢子囊远轴着生,起源于皮下细胞。在小孢子母细胞分裂前后,绒毡层出现局部异常膨大现象。成熟花粉由两个细胞组成。雌配子体游离核经8次分裂产生256个核后形成胞壁。颈卵器单个,顶生。从胚珠结构和雌雄配子体发育来看,穗花杉属在红豆杉科中可能居于最原始的位置;而且它与三尖杉属有许多共同之处。     

A New Species of Petrified Ovules of Late Paleozoic

Ovules (or seeds) are distributed widely in the beds of Paleozoic of China, but what have been found are all impressions or molds of them. Recently, while studying the fossil plants in coal balls of Coal Seam No.7 (P1) at the upper part of Taiyuan Formation in Xishan Coal- Field, Taiyuan, Shanxi Province, We found a kind of petrified ovules with internal structures, which not only are abundant but also quite well presserved. Having been studied, they are put into Cardiocarpus Brongniart and considered as a new species C. samaratus. In the coal bails they are often found associated with the leaves, stems and fructifications of Cordaites, so it is very possible that these ovules belong to Cordaites. It is very interesting that these ovules are very similar to those of the earliest conifers Lebachia described by G. M. Rothwell in 1982. This indicates' that there is a close relation between Cordaites and conifers. Cardioearpus samaratus ap.nov. The ovules are small, flat and obviously-winged. The average length is 6–7mm. The largest width (nearly equal to the length) is at the lower middle part of the ovule. Wings and the top and base of the ovule bend to the same side in a varying extent. The ovule is not cordate at the base. The integument can be divided into three layers: the sarcrotesta consisting of parenchymatous cells, the sclerotesta and the endotesta consisting of longitudinally-elongated sclerenchymatous and parenchymatous cells. The lower midrile part of the nucellus is vascularized. The micropyle is elliptical in transverse section. One main vascular bundle extends upwards from the base. Before it arrives at the sclerotesta, it biforcates into two vascular bundles and extend upwards in the sarcrotesta at the wings. In the meantime, the main vascular bundle continues' to extend upwards and passes across the sclerotesta and reaches the base of the nucellus from where it extends into the nucellus.     

荔枝胚珠中多胺含量变化与胚胎发育的关系

荔枝胚胎发育与胚珠中３种多胺（ＰＡｓ）含量及其比例变化关系密切。试验结果表明：正常发育的胚珠中腐胺（Ｐｕｔ）、亚精胺（Ｓｐｄ）和精胺（Ｓｐｍ）的含量在胚胎发育的各个阶段均高于败育胚珠,并在花后７ｄ即达到最高值,其中Ｐｕｔ的含量最高,随后都呈下降趋势。但正常胚珠中Ｓｐｍ含量在花后２２至３１ｄ（球形胚至心形胚发育阶段）均有所回升,而败育胚珠无此现象。败育胚珠中的Ｓｐｄ和Ｓｐｍ在胚胎败育期的下降速度显著