• Title/Summary/Keyword: megaspore

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Studies on the abnormality of embryo sac Formation of Forsythia (개나리의 배낭형성이상(胚囊形成異常)에 관(關)하여)

  • Han, Chang Yawl;Kim, Chi Moon
    • Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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    • v.3 no.1
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    • pp.1-4
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    • 1963
  • Present experiment has been carried out in order to make clear the abnormalities of the female gametophyte formation and its relation to fertility, using the short-style of F. koreana, the results of which are summarized as follows : (1) Anatropous ovule has single integument with thick cell-layer and tiny nucellus consisting of nucella-epidermis and megaspore mother cell. (2) Meiotic division of megaspore mother cell takes place around middle or latter part of March, while that of microspore mother cell occurs from the end of September to the beginning of October. (3) Megaspore mother cell stage is long, and ranges from October to March next year. (4) Formation of mature embryo sac is not completed until the beginning of May, approximately one month after blooming. (5) Normal embryo sac is rare, most of the nucellus being devoid of embryo sac.

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Formation of Gametophytes and Development of Zygotic Embryo in Dicentra spectabilis (금낭화(Dicentra spectabilis)의 배우체 형성 및 접합자배의 발달)

  • Sim Ock-Kyeong;Lee Kang-Seop;Kim Ee-Yup;Eun Jong-Seon
    • Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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    • v.18 no.2
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    • pp.302-308
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    • 2005
  • This study was carried out to obtain the basic informations on the characteristics of gametophytes formation and embryo developement in Dicentra spectabilis. Microspore mother cells developed from archesporial cells, start meiosis when flower bud length reaches around 1 mm, formed tetrahedral type tetrad. The 4 microspores were separated. They were developed to male gametophytes, respectively. Megaspore mother cells were observed when flower bud length was $4{\sim}5\;mm$. The developemental type of megaspore was polygonum and embryo sac was amphitropous. Three large and distinctive antipodals did not degenerated and remained after embryo sac was developed. When the male and female gametophytes was fully developed, the length of stamen and style was very similar or stamen was shorter about 0.5 mm than that of style. This result indicates that self-fertilization can be occurred in this species. After fertilization, developing zygotic embryos showed various stages of development from globular to cotyledonary embryos, and zygotic embryo in seed scattering time seemed to have an early cotyledonary stage.

The embryological studies on the interspecific hybrid of ginseng plant (Panax ginseng x P. Quiuquefolium) with special references to the seed abortion (인삼의 종간잡종 Panax ginseng x P Quinquefoilium의 발생학적 연구 특히 결실불능의 원인에 관하여)

  • Jong-Kyu Hwang
    • KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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    • v.5 no.1
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    • pp.69-86
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    • 1969
  • On the growing of the interspecific hybrid ginseng plant, the phenomena of hybrid vigoures are observed in the root, stem, and leaf, but it can not produce seeds favorably since the ovary is abortive in most cases in interspecific hybrid plants. The present investigation was undertaken in an attempt to elucidate the embryological dses of the seed failure in the interspecific hybrid of ginseng (Panax Ginseng ${\times}$ P. Quinque folium). And the results obtained may be summarized as follows. 1). The vegetative growth of the interspecific hybrid ginseng plant is normal or rather vigorous, but the generative growth is extremely obstructed. 2). Even though the generative growth is interrupted the normal development of ovary tissue of flower can be shown until the stage prior to meiosis. 3). The division of the male gameto-genetic cell and the female gameto-genetic cell are exceedingly irregular and some of them are constricted prior to meiosis. 4). At meiosis in the microspore mother cell of the interspecific hybrid, abnormal division is observed in that the univalent chromosome and chromosome bridge occure. And in most cases, metaphasic configuration is principally presented as 23 II+2I, though rarely 22II+4I is also found. 5). Through the process of microspore and pollen formation of F1, the various developmental phases occur even in an anther loclus. 6). Macro, micro and empty pollen grains occur and the functional pollen is very rare. 7). After the megaspore mother cell stage, the rate of ovule development is, on the whole, delayed but the ovary wall enlargement is nearly normal. 8). Degenerating phenomena of ovules occur from the megaspore mother cell stage to 8-nucleate embryo sac stage, and their beginning time of constricting shape is variously different. 9). The megaspore arrangement in the parent is principally of the linear type, though rarely the intermediate type is also observed, whereas various types, viz, linear, intermediate, Tshape, and I shape can be observed in hybrid. 10). After meiosis, three or five megaspore are some times counted. 11). Charazal end megaspore is generally functional in the parents, whereas, in F1, very rarely one of the center megaspores (the second of the third megaspore) grows as an embryo sac mother cell. 12). In accordance with the extent of irregularity or abnormality in meiosis, division of embryo sac nuclei and embryo sac formation cause more nucellus tissue to remain within th, embryo sac. 13). Even if one reached the stage of embryo sac formation, the embryo sac nuclei are always precarious and they can not be disposed to theil proper, respective position. 14). Within the embryo sac, which is lacking the endospermcell, the 4-celled proembryo, linear arrangement, is observed. 15). Through the above respects, the cause of sterile or seed failure of interspecific hybrid would be presumably as follows, By interspecific crossing gene reassortments takes place and the gene system influences the metabolism by the interference of certain enzyme as media. In the F1 plant, the quantity and quality of chemicals produced by the enzyme system and reaction system are entirely different from the case of the parents. Generally, in order to grow, form, and develop naw parts it is necessary to change the materials and energy with reasonable balance, whereas in the F1 plant the metabolic process becomes abnormal or irregular because of the breakdown of the balancing. Thus the changing of the gene-reaction system causes the alteration of the environmental condition of the gameto-genetic cells in the anther and ovule; the produced chemicals cause changes of oxidatio-reduction potential, PH value, protein denaturation and the polarity, etc. Then, the abnormal tissue growing in the ovule and emdryo sac, inhibition of normal development and storage of some chemicals, especially inhibitor, finally lead to sterility or seed failure. Inconclusion, we may presume that the first cause of sterile or seed abortion in interspecific hybrids is the gene reassortment, and the second is the irregularity of the metabolic system, storage of chemicals, especially inhibitor, the growth of abnormal tissue and the change of the polarity etc, and they finally lead to sexual defect, sterility and seed failure.

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Embryological Characteristics on Seed Sterility of Ligusticum chuanxiong Hoit. (천궁의 종자불임에 관한 발생학적 특성)

  • Park, Chung-Heon;Lee, Man-Sang;Namkoong, Seung-Bak;Yu, Hong-Seob;Park, Hee-Woon
    • Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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    • v.12 no.3
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    • pp.209-213
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    • 2004
  • Ligusticum chuanxiong is receiving much attentions as one of the important medicinal crops with the increasement of the crude drug demands. This study was conducted to obtain the basic informations of breeding of Ligusticum chuanxiong. Embryological characteristics were examined to elucidate the process of male and female gametophytic development and fertilization. Meiosis and nucleus division of megaspore and microspore were proceeded normally. With regard to the formation of female gametophyte, only a half of female gametophyte developed to normal egg apparatus. While another 50% showed abnormal egg apparatus with poly-nuclei or non-nuclei ovule. The pollens developed from the micros pore were formed more than 90 % of normal pollen. It was difficult to observe fertilization because ovule tissue was very compact and cell was extremely tiny, but could be easely observed proembryo and embryo formation. Only 30 percent developed into proembryo and subsequently into embryo, and the others were degenerated.

Gametophytic Abortion in Heterozygotes but Not in Homozygotes: Implied Chromosome Rearrangement during T-DNA Insertion at the ASF1 Locus in Arabidopsis

  • Min, Yunsook;Frost, Jennifer M.;Choi, Yeonhee
    • Molecules and Cells
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    • v.43 no.5
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    • pp.448-458
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    • 2020
  • T-DNA insertional mutations in Arabidopsis genes have conferred huge benefits to the research community, greatly facilitating gene function analyses. However, the insertion process can cause chromosomal rearrangements. Here, we show an example of a likely rearrangement following T-DNA insertion in the Anti-Silencing Function 1B (ASF1B) gene locus on Arabidopsis chromosome 5, so that the phenotype was not relevant to the gene of interest, ASF1B. ASF1 is a histone H3/H4 chaperone involved in chromatin remodeling in the sporophyte and during reproduction. Plants that were homozygous for mutant alleles asf1a or asf1b were developmentally normal. However, following self-fertilization of double heterozygotes (ASF1A/asf1a ASF1B/asf1b, hereafter AaBb), defects were visible in both male and female gametes. Half of the AaBb and aaBb ovules displayed arrested embryo sacs with functional megaspore identity. Similarly, half of the AaBb and aaBb pollen grains showed centromere defects, resulting in pollen abortion at the bi-cellular stage of the male gametophyte. However, inheritance of the mutant allele in a given gamete did not solely determine the abortion phenotype. Introducing functional ASF1B failed to rescue the AaBb- and aaBb-mediated abortion, suggesting that heterozygosity in the ASF1B gene causes gametophytic defects, rather than the loss of ASF1. The presence of reproductive defects in heterozygous mutants but not in homozygotes, and the characteristic all-or-nothing pollen viability within tetrads, were both indicative of commonly-observed T-DNA-mediated translocation activity for this allele. Our observations reinforce the importance of complementation tests in assigning gene function using reverse genetics.

Development of Female Gametophyte of Six Species of Corydalis (Fumariaceae) (현호색속(현호색과) 6종의 자성배우자체 발달과정)

  • Oh, Byoung-Un;Jang, Chang-Gee
    • Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
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    • v.32 no.4
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    • pp.467-480
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    • 2002
  • The development of the female gametophyte of Corydalis albipetala, C. ambigua, C. filistipes, C. nobilis, C. solida, C. ophiocarpa have been comparatively investigated using laser scanning confocal microscope (LSCM) and light microscope. An archesporium was originated from one of the outmost parietal cells beneath the one-layered epidermis of protuberant nucellus, and acted directly as a megaspore mother cell (MMC). These species had linear tetrads after successional meiotic division during the megasprogenesis. A functional megasprore developed from one of the tetrad in the chalazal end, and the rest three being degenerated. The developmental type of the female gametophyte was monosporic in accordance with the Polygonum type. Prior to anthesis the female gametophyte was organized. So mature embryo sac was comprised a three-celled egg apparatus, three large antipodals were developed from the apex of each antipodal cell, and extended toward micropylar end to be contacted with egg apparatus. Two synergids were usually observed as degenerated condition, and in this time the apices of antipodal haustoria were connected with the degenerated synergids. The developmental characteristics of seven-nucleate female gametophytes were common in all the species investigated. But the shape of mature embryo sac was ovoidal in C. albipetala, C. filistipes, C. ophiocarpa and C. solida, reflexed in C. ambigua, and rather flattened ovoidal in C. nobilis. Also, the type of megasporangium was anatropous in all the species except C. ambigua with campylotropous ovule.

Epigenetic control of LTR retrotransposons in plant germline and somatic cells

  • Lee, Seung Cho;Parent, Jean-Sebastien;Ernst, Evan;Berger, Frederic;Grimanelli, Daniel;Martienssen, Robert A.
    • Proceedings of the Korean Society of Crop Science Conference
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    • 2017.06a
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    • pp.20-20
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    • 2017
  • Plant genomes include heterochromatic loci that consist of repetitive sequences and transposable elements. LTR retrotransposon is the major class of transposons in advanced plants in terms of proportion in plant genome. The elements contribute not only to genome size but also to genome stability and gene expression. A number of cases have been reported transposon insertions near genic regions affect crop traits such as fruit pigments, stress tolerance, and yields. Functional LTR retrotransposons produce extrachromosomal DNA from genomic RNA by reverse transcription that takes place within virus-like-particles (VLPs). DECREASED DNA METHYLATION 1 (DDM1) plays important roles in maintaining DNA methylation of heterochromatin affecting all sequence contexts, CG, CHG, and CHH. Previous studies showed that ddm1 mutant exhibits massive transcription of retrotransposons in Arabidopsis, but only few of them were able to create new insertions into the genome. RNA-dependent RNA POLYMERASE 6 (RDR6) is known to function in restricting accumulation of transposon RNA by processing the transcripts into 21-22 nt epigenetically activated small interfering RNA (easiRNA). We purified VLPs and sequence cDNA to identify functional LTR retrotransposons in Arabidopsis ddm1 and ddm1rdr6 plants. Over 20 LTR copia and gypsy families were detected in ddm1 and ddm1rdr6 sequencing libraries and most of them were not reported for mobility. In ddm1rdr6, short fragments of ATHILA gypsy elements were detected. It suggests easiRNAs might regulate reverse transcription steps. The highest enriched element among transposon loci was previously characterized EVADE element. It has been reported that active EVADE element is more efficiently silenced through female germline than male germline. By genetic analyses, we found ddm1 and rdr6 mutation affect maternal silencing of active EVADE elements. DDM1-GFP protein accumulated in megaspore mother cell but was not found in mature egg cell. The fusion protein was also found in early embryo and maternal DDM1-GFP allele was more dominantly expressed in the embryo. We observed localization of DDM1-GFP in Arabidopsis and DDM1-YFP in maize and found the proteins accumulated in dividing zone of root tips. Currently we are looking at cell cycle dependency of DDM1 expression using maize system. Among 10 AGO proteins in Arabidopsis, AGO9 is specifically expressed in egg cell and shoot meristematic cells. In addition, mutation of AGO9 and RDR6 caused failure in maternal silencing, implying 21-22 nt easiRNA pathway is important for retrotransposon silencing in female gametophyte or/and early embryo. On the other hand, canonical 24 nt sRNA-directed DNA methylation (RdDM) pathways did not contribute to maternal silencing as confirmed by this study. Heat-activated LTR retrotransposon, ONSEN, was not silenced by DDM1 but the silencing mechanisms require RdDM pathways in somatic cells. We will propose distinct mechanisms of LTR retrotransposons in germline and somatic stages.

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Epigenetic control of LTR retrotransposons in plant germline and somatic cells

  • Lee, Seung Cho;Parent, Jean-Sebastien;Ernst, Evan;Berger, Frederic;Grimanelli, Daniel;Martienssen, Robert A.
    • Proceedings of the Korean Society of Crop Science Conference
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    • 2017.06a
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    • pp.97-97
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    • 2017
  • Plant genomes include heterochromatic loci that consist of repetitive sequences and transposable elements. LTR retrotransposon is the major class of transposons in advanced plants in terms of proportion in plant genome. The elements contribute not only to genome size but also to genome stability and gene expression. A number of cases have been reported transposon insertions near genic regions affect crop traits such as fruit pigments, stress tolerance, and yields. Functional LTR retrotransposons produce extrachromosomal DNA from genomic RNA by reverse transcription that takes place within virus-like-particles (VLPs). DECREASED DNA METHYLATION 1 (DDM1) plays important roles in maintaining DNA methylation of heterochromatin affecting all sequence contexts, CG, CHG, and CHH. Previous studies showed that ddm1 mutant exhibits massive transcription of retrotransposons in Arabidopsis, but only few of them were able to create new insertions into the genome. RNA-dependent RNA POLYMERASE 6 (RDR6) is known to function in restricting accumulation of transposon RNA by processing the transcripts into 21-22 nt epigenetically activated small interfering RNA (easiRNA). We purified VLPs and sequence cDNA to identify functional LTR retrotransposons in Arabidopsis ddm1 and ddm1rdr6 plants. Over 20 LTR copia and gypsy families were detected in ddm1 and ddm1rdr6 sequencing libraries and most of them were not reported for mobility. In ddm1rdr6, short fragments of ATHILA gypsy elements were detected. It suggests easiRNAs might regulate reverse transcription steps. The highest enriched element among transposon loci was previously characterized EVADE element. It has been reported that active EVADE element is more efficiently silenced through female germline than male germline. By genetic analyses, we found ddm1 and rdr6 mutation affect maternal silencing of active EVADE elements. DDM1-GFP protein accumulated in megaspore mother cell but was not found in mature egg cell. The fusion protein was also found in early embryo and maternal DDM1-GFP allele was more dominantly expressed in the embryo. We observed localization of DDM1-GFP in Arabidopsis and DDM1-YFP in maize and found the proteins accumulated in dividing zone of root tips. Currently we are looking at cell cycle dependency of DDM1 expression using maize system. Among 10 AGO proteins in Arabidopsis, AGO9 is specifically expressed in egg cell and shoot meristematic cells. In addition, mutation of AGO9 and RDR6 caused failure in maternal silencing, implying 21-22 nt easiRNA pathway is important for retrotransposon silencing in female gametophyte or/and early embryo. On the other hand, canonical 24 nt sRNA-directed DNA methylation (RdDM) pathways did not contribute to maternal silencing as confirmed by this study. Heat-activated LTR retrotransposon, ONSEN, was not silenced by DDM1 but the silencing mechanisms require RdDM pathways in somatic cells. We will propose distinct mechanisms of LTR retrotransposons in germline and somatic stages.

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Prospect on the Fixation of $F_1$ Hybrid Seed by Means of 2n Apomixis (2n性 單爲생殖 이용에 의한 固定 $F_1$種子 생산과 그 展望)

  • 한창열;한지학
    • Korean Journal of Plant Tissue Culture
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    • v.24 no.4
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    • pp.239-256
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    • 1997
  • Plants belonging to the category of 2n apomixis or agamospermy form embryos and seeds without the processes of normal meiosis and syngamy. Seeds produced in this way have identical genotype of their maternal parent. Three different types of agamospermy are recognized: diplospory, apospory, and adventitious (adventive) embryony. $F_1$ hybrid cultivars cannot be used as seed sources in the next ($F_2$) generation because this generation would be extremely variable as a result of genetic segregation. Hybrid vigor is also reduced in the $F_2$ generation. Therefore, parental stocks for hybrid seed production need to be maintained and cross must be continuously repeated. Agamospermic 2n apomixis would make it possible to fix the genotype of a superior variety so that clonal seeds faithfully representing that genotype could be continuously and cheaply produced independent of pollination. That is, $F_1$ hybrid seeds could be produced for many generations without loss of vigor or genotype alteration. Production of apomictic $F_1$ hybrid seed would be simplified because line isolation would not be necessary to produce seed or to maintain parental lines, and the use of male-sterile lines could be avoided. Overall, apomixis would enable a significant reduction in hybrid seed production costs. Additionally, the production of clonal seed is not only important for seed propagated crops, but also for the propagation of heterozygous fruit trees and timbers. Clonal seed would help avoid costly and time-consuming vegetative propagating methods that are currently used to ensure the large-scale production of these plants. Apomixis is scattered throughout the plant kingdom, but few important agricultural crops possess this trait Therefore, most research to date has centered on introgressing the trait of apomixis into agricultural crops such as wheat, maize, and some forage grasses from wild distant relatives by traditional cross breeding. The classical breeding approach, however is slow and often impeded by many breeding barriers. These problems could be surmounted by taking mutagenesis or molecular approach. Arabidopsis thaliana is a tiny sexually reproducing plant and is convenient in constructing and screening in molecular researches. Male-sterile mutants of Arabidopsis are particularly suitable genetic background for mutagenesis and screening for apomictic mutants. Molecular approaches towards isolating the genes controlling the apomictic process are feasible. Direct isolation of genes conferring apomixis development would greatly facilitate the transfer of this trait to wide variety of crops. Such studies are now in progress.

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Embryology of Gymnospermium microrrhynchum (Berberidaceae) (한계령풀의 생식기관 발생형태)

  • Ghimire, Balkrishna;Shin, Dong-Yong;Heo, Kweon
    • Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
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    • v.40 no.4
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    • pp.226-233
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    • 2010
  • An intensive study of the embryology of Gymnospermium microrrhynchum was conducted to provide information regarding a discussion of the phylogenetic relationships of the genus, which is yet unstudied. Our results indicated that Gymnospermium is similar to other genera of Berberidaceae in terms of its embryological features. Nevertheless, newly reported and unique features are the well-developed endothelium and the undifferentiated seed coat type. Until the study of Gymnospermium, it may have been considered to be closer to Caulophyllum and Leontice in the tribe Leonticeae. These three genera share many morphological features as well as molecular similarities, by which they are kept in the same tribe, Leonticeae. However, very little detailed embryological data regarding these genera have been published thus far. Gymnospermium was characterized according to the basic type of anther wall formation as well as its glandular tapetum, successive cytokinesis in the microspore mother cell, two-celled mature pollen grains, anatropous and crassinucellate ovules with a nucellar cap, well-developed endothelium, its Polygonum type of embryo sac formation, its nuclear type of endosperm formation, and its undifferentiated seed coat type. In comparison with Nandina, there are many differences, such as the dehiscence of the anther, the cytokinesis in the microspore mother cells, the shape of the megaspore dyad, and the seed characteristics. Although we had no available detailed embryological information regarding Caulophyllum and Leontice, which are genera that are more closely related to Gymnospermium, we could deduce from the phylogenetic relationship that Gymnospermium, Caulophyllum, and Leontice are more closely related to each other than other genera of Berberidaceae on the basis of the seed characteristics.