Antheridiogen production and response in Polypodiaceae species

Antheridiogen chemicals secreted by living fern gametophytes have been shown to influence production of male gametangia and thus mating systems in a large number of terrestrial fern species. Antheridiogens have not previously been thought to be prevalent in the Polypodiaceae, a large family composed mostly of tropical epiphytes. This study presents bioassay methods more sensitive than previously used to detect antheridiogen and demonstrates that antheridiogens are also operative in the Polypodiaceae and in epiphytic species. Seven species in six genera (Campyloneurum angustifolium, C. phyllitidis, Lepisorus thunbergianus, Microgramma heterophylla, Phlebodium aureum, Phymatosorus scolopendria, and Polypodium pellucidum) were tested for the presence of an antheridiogen system. All species tested except P. aureum were induced to produce antheridia precociously by their own antheridiogen and by that of Pteridium aquilinum (APt). Phlebodium aureum responded to APt and promoted antheridium formation in Onoclea sensibilis but did not respond to its own antheridiogen. Spores of all species except P. aureum were induced to germinate in darkness by antheridiogen of the same species and by APt and to form antheridia in the dark, further enhancing the possibility of intergametophytic mating.     

水蕨性别决定研究进展

介绍了成精子囊素、赤霉素、培养密度等环境因素对水蕨性别决定的影响以及和水蕨性别决定有关的遗传学和分子生物学研究,概述了以水蕨为材料研究植物性别决定的优势及研究意义,明确了水蕨作为研究植物性别决定的模式植物的地位。     

狭眼凤尾蕨配子体发育及其成精子囊素对水蕨配子体发育的影响

对狭眼凤尾蕨（Pteris biaurita）配子体发育特征及其外源成精子囊素对模式植物水蕨（Ceratopteris thalictroides）在黑暗和光照条件下孢子萌发和配子体发育的影响进行了研究。结果表明：（1）狭眼凤尾蕨孢子深褐色,三裂缝,孢子萌发为书带蕨型,原叶体发育为水蕨型,无毛状体产生;培养发现,其配子体能产生精子器,但不产生颈卵器,当接种密度适中时,可进行无配子生殖。（2）在光照和黑暗条件下狭眼凤尾蕨成精子囊素有促进和抑制水蕨孢子萌发的作用,但效果均不显著。（3）在光照条件下,狭眼凤尾蕨成精子囊素可以延迟水蕨心脏形配子体分生组织缺刻的形成,但对其配子体形态和性别分化无明显影响;而在黑暗条件下狭眼凤尾蕨成精囊素对水蕨长条形配子体的形态发育具有一定影响,与对照组相比其顶端分生组织发达,整体呈长楔形,对性别分化影响不显著。可见,狭眼凤尾蕨和水蕨不具有同种成精子囊素系统。     

同形鳞毛蕨成精子囊素系统的初步研究

研究了同形鳞毛蕨成精子囊素对该种和水蕨孢子萌发和配子体发育的影响,结果表明：同形鳞毛蕨配子体能产生成精子囊素,该成精子囊素能抑制同种孢子的萌发,抑制作用随配子体成熟度的增加而增强;同形鳞毛蕨成精子囊素还可促进同种孢子发育为雄配子体;光照条件下,同形鳞毛蕨成精子囊素对水蕨孢子萌发和配子体发育影响不大,黑暗条件下,同形鳞毛蕨成精子囊素能显著的促使水蕨孢子提早萌发,但都不影响其孢子最终萌发率和配子体的性别分化,表明同形鳞毛蕨和水蕨的成精子囊素不属于同一系统。     

Production of Galactose Oxidase by Gibberella fujikuroi

The distribution of galactose oxidase was investigated among microorganisms. Gibberella fujikuroi excreted a large amount of the enzyme into the culture medium. A study of the cultural conditions of this organism for enzyme formation showed that galactose oxidase production required copper. Copper was found to play a role, not only in the conversion of apoenzyme to holoenzyme, but also in regulation of the biosynthesis of galactose oxidase protein.     

Morphological functions of gibberellins in leptosporangiate fern gametophytes: insights into the evolution of form and gender expression

In addition to genetic load, the induction of maleness in leptosporangiate gametophytes by the pheromone antheridiogen may facilitate rates of outcrossing similar to those found in angiosperms. The antheridiogens that have been chemically identified are similar to gibberellins and probably evolved from this common plant hormone. The purposes of this study were to determine the functions of endogenous gibberellins in morphological development and gender expression in leptosporangiate fern gametophytes and to elucidate how antheridiogens may have evolved from gibberellin precursors. We grew gametophytes of Osmunda regalis and Athyrium filix‐femina on nutrient agar enriched with APOGEE, which blocks gibberellin synthesis. Osmunda regalis is a member of Osmundaceae, the only family in Osmundales, the sister group of all remaining extant leptosporangiate ferns. This family possesses a male‐first gender in isolation and lacks any known antheridiogen systems. In contrast, A. filix‐femina is a member of a derived family, Woodsiaceae, which possesses antheridiogen systems. Disruption of gibberellin synthesis retarded notch development and expression of both maleness and femaleness (i.e. gender status) in both species. On the basis of these results, we offer a simple model of gametophyte evolution driven by gender‐based fitness gain curves and the influence of exogenous gibberellins. © 2009 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2009, 159 , 599–615.     

Gametophyte development of Woodwardia radicans (L.) Sm.: Effect of population density and antheridiogen on sex expression

Abstract

Gametophyte development of Woorwardia radicans was studied in controlled culture conditions, as well as the effect of population density and antheridiogen on sex expression. The pattern of gametophyte development is not affected by temperature, while sex expression of gametophytes is affected by sowing density, by the presence in the culture medium of «antheridiogen» and by the nutritional conditions of gametophytes. The probable effects of antheridiogen and population density on the observed developmental pattern are considered.     

Characterization and genetic analysis of antheridiogen-insensitive mutants in the fern Ceratopteris

WARNE, T. R., HICKOK, L. G. & SCOTT, R. S., 1988. Characterization and genetic analysis of antheridiogen-insensitive mutants in the fern Ceratopteris . The pheromone antheridiogen mediates the differentiation of male gametophytes in the fern Ceratopteris . Mutants insensitive to antheridiogen were isolated using an in vitro selection procedure. Antheridiogen-insensitive mutants exhibited partial or complete insensitivity to antheridiogen, but were normal in all other respects. Two mutants were completely insensitive to antheridiogen, whereas, another mutant was insensitive to supplemented antheridiogen, but produced male gametophytes in multispore cultures. Genetic analysis suggested a single gene basis for each mutant.