Interactions between pollen tube and pistil control pollen tube identity and sperm release in the Arabidopsis female gametophyte

Flowering plants have immotile sperm that develop within the pollen cytoplasm and are delivered to female gametes by a pollen tube, a highly polarized extension of the pollen cell. In many flowering plant species, including seed crop plants, hundreds of pollen tubes grow towards a limited number of ovules. This system should ensure maximal fertilization of ovules and seed production; however, we know very little about how signalling between the critical cells is integrated to orchestrate delivery of two functional sperm to each ovule. Recent studies suggest that the pollen tube changes its gene-expression programme in response to growth through pistil tissue and that this differentiation process is critical for pollen tube attraction by the female gametophyte and for release of sperm. Interestingly, these two signalling systems, called pollen tube guidance and pollen tube reception, are also species-preferential. The present review focuses on Arabidopsis pollen tube differentiation within the pistil and addresses the idea that pollen tube differentiation defines pollen tube identity and recognition by female cells. We review recent identification of genes that may control pollen tube–female gametophyte recognition and discuss how these may be involved in blocking interspecific hybridization.

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Pollen tube guidance by the female gametophyte

Development ◽

10.1242/dev.124.12.2489 ◽

1997 ◽

Vol 124 (12) ◽

pp. 2489-2498 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

S.M. Ray ◽

S.S. Park ◽

A. Ray

Keyword(s):

Pollen Tube ◽

Long Range ◽

Female Gametophyte ◽

Chromosomal Translocation ◽

Pollen Grains ◽

Pollen Tubes ◽

Flowering Plants ◽

Genetic Studies ◽

Transmitting Tract ◽

Pollen Tube Guidance

In flowering plants, pollen grains germinate on the pistil and send pollen tubes down the transmitting tract toward ovules. Previous genetic studies suggested that the ovule is responsible for long-range pollen tube guidance during the last phase of a pollen tube's journey to the female gametes. It was not possible, however, to unambiguously identify the signaling cells within an ovule: the haploid female gametophyte or the diploid sporophytic cells. In an effort to distinguish genetically between these two possibilities, we have used a reciprocal chromosomal translocation to generate flowers wherein approximately half the ovules do not contain a functional female gametophyte but all ovules contain genotypically normal sporophytic cells. In these flowers, pollen tubes are guided to the normal but not to the abnormal female gametophytes. These results strongly suggest that the female gametophyte is responsible for pollen tube guidance, but leave open the possibility that the gametophyte may accomplish this indirectly through its influence on some sporophytic cells.

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Female gametophyte-controlled pollen tube guidance

Biochemical Society Transactions ◽

10.1042/bst0380627 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 38 (2) ◽

pp. 627-630 ◽

Cited By ~ 37

Author(s):

Mihaela-Luiza Márton ◽

Thomas Dresselhaus

Keyword(s):

Pollen Tube ◽

Female Gametophyte ◽

Cell Communication ◽

Flowering Plants ◽

Sperm Cells ◽

Double Fertilization ◽

Pollen Tube Guidance ◽

Communication Events ◽

Extensive Cell

During the evolution of flowering plants, their sperm cells have lost mobility and are transported from the stigma to the female gametophyte via the pollen tube to achieve double fertilization. Pollen tube growth and guidance is largely governed by the maternal sporophytic tissues of the stigma, style and ovule. However, the last phase of the pollen tube path is under female gametophyte control and is expected to require extensive cell–cell communication events between both gametophytes. Until recently, little was known about the molecules produced by the female gametophyte that are involved in this process. In the present paper, we review the most recent development in this field and focus on the role of secreted candidate signalling ligands.

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Botanical Identity of Seasonal Flowering Plants Available and Maintained in the Home Gardens of District Nainital, Uttarakhand

Journal of Non Timber Forest Products ◽

10.54207/bsmps2000-2016-6ttves ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 23 (2) ◽

pp. 89-102

Author(s):

Kuldeep Negi ◽

Vandana Tiwari ◽

Puran Mehta ◽

Rajni Rawat ◽

Saraswati Ojha ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Economic Status ◽

Plant Genetic Resources ◽

Geographical Area ◽

Flowering Plants ◽

Home Gardens ◽

Flowering Plant ◽

Ecological Niches ◽

Wide Range ◽

Seasonal Flowering ◽

Flowering Plant Species

Uttarakhand is a store house of plant genetic resources of several crop groups including ornamentals and seasonal flowering plant species. A wide range of seasonal flowering plants are being grown in the region because of its various and favourable agro-geo climatic zones. Ornamental plant enhances aesthetic value of our environment. There are 8 developmental blocks and 1082 villages in district Nainital of Uttarakhand. Nainital district, is a part of Kumaun region of Uttarakhand. It lies between 29?0.1' to 29?36' 21'' N latitude and 78?50' 53'' to 80?06' E longitude. More than 7.62 lakh population reside in 4064 km2 of geographical area of district Nainital. The district falls under sub-tropical to temperate zones. During the course of field survey (2013-2015), we came across wide range of seasonal flowering plants mostly belong to exotic origin being grown in the home gardens of natives of the region situated in different agro-ecological niches. The present study highlighted a total of 150 seasonal flowering plants with 120 genera belonging to 50 families. These were arranged alphabetically with botanical names followed by vernacular and trade name, family, origin or native place, nature, season with appropriate remarks of variation in shape, size and colour, method of propagation with economic status.

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Toevoegings tot die blomplantlys van die Bergkwagga Nasionale Park

Koedoe ◽

10.4102/koedoe.v20i1.956 ◽

1977 ◽

Vol 20 (1) ◽

Author(s):

B.L. Penzhorn

Keyword(s):

Plant Species ◽

National Park ◽

Flowering Plants ◽

Flowering Plant ◽

Check List ◽

Flowering Plant Species

Additions to the check list of flowering plants of the Mountain Zebra National Park. Thirteen additional flowering plant species are reported from the Mountain Zebra National Park, increasing the total reported to 371 species.

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Attractive and repulsive interactions between female and male gametophytes in Arabidopsis pollen tube guidance

Development ◽

10.1242/dev.127.20.4511 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 127 (20) ◽

pp. 4511-4518 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

K.K. Shimizu ◽

K. Okada

Keyword(s):

Pollen Tube ◽

Female Gametophyte ◽

Inclusive Fitness ◽

Male Gametophyte ◽

Pollen Tubes ◽

Interspecific Crosses ◽

Pollen Tube Guidance ◽

Normal Number ◽

Mutant Female ◽

Diploid Cells

Sexual reproduction in plants, unlike that of animals, requires the action of multicellular haploid gametophytes. The male gametophyte (pollen tube) is guided to a female gametophyte through diploid sporophytic cells in the pistil. While interactions between the pollen tube and diploid cells have been described, little is known about the intercellular recognition systems between the pollen tube and the female gametophyte. In particular, the mechanisms that enable only one pollen tube to interact with each female gametophyte, thereby preventing polysperm, are not understood. We isolated female gametophyte mutants named magatama (maa) from Arabidopsis thaliana by screening for siliques containing half the normal number of mature seeds. In maa1 and maa3 mutants, in which the development of the female gametophyte was delayed, pollen tube guidance was affected. Pollen tubes were directed to mutant female gametophytes, but they lost their way just before entering the micropyle and elongated in random directions. Moreover, the mutant female gametophytes attracted two pollen tubes at a high frequency. To explain the interaction between gametophytes, we propose a monogamy model in which a female gametophyte emits two attractants and prevents polyspermy. This prevention process by the female gametophyte could increase a plant's inclusive fitness by facilitating the fertilization of sibling female gametophytes. In addition, repulsion between pollen tubes might help prevent polyspermy. The reproductive isolations observed in interspecific crosses in Brassicaceae are also consistent with the monogamy model.

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Reproductive Multitasking: The Female Gametophyte

Annual Review of Plant Biology ◽

10.1146/annurev-arplant-081519-035943 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 71 (1) ◽

pp. 517-546 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Friederike Hater ◽

Thomas Nakel ◽

Rita Groß-Hardt

Keyword(s):

Pollen Tube ◽

Female Gametophyte ◽

Flowering Plants ◽

Molecular Control ◽

Repair Mechanisms ◽

Plant Hybridization ◽

Evolutionary Success ◽

Underlying Mechanisms ◽

And Function ◽

Functional Megaspore

Fertilization of flowering plants requires the organization of complex tasks, many of which become integrated by the female gametophyte (FG). The FG is a few-celled haploid structure that orchestrates division of labor to coordinate successful interaction with the sperm cells and their transport vehicle, the pollen tube. As reproductive outcome is directly coupled to evolutionary success, the underlying mechanisms are under robust molecular control, including integrity check and repair mechanisms. Here, we review progress on understanding the development and function of the FG, starting with the functional megaspore, which represents the haploid founder cell of the FG. We highlight recent achievements that have greatly advanced our understanding of pollen tube attraction strategies and the mechanisms that regulate plant hybridization and gamete fusion. In addition, we discuss novel insights into plant polyploidization strategies that expand current concepts on the evolution of flowering plants.

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Attractiveness of flowering plants for natural enemies

Horticultural Science ◽

10.17221/26/2011-hortsci ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 39 (No. 2) ◽

pp. 89-96 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

T. Kopta ◽

R. Pokluda ◽

V. Psota

Keyword(s):

Natural Enemies ◽

Flowering Plants ◽

Flowering Plant ◽

Tagetes Patula ◽

Anethum Graveolens ◽

Insect Communities ◽

Foeniculum Vulgare ◽

Beneficial Insects ◽

Predatory Bugs ◽

Flowering Plant Species

The set of 7 flowering plant species (Anethum graveolens, Calendula officinalis, Centaurea cyanus, Fagopyrum esculentum, Foeniculum vulgare, Tagetes patula and Vicia faba) was compared for their attractiveness to natural enemies such as ladybeetles (Coccinellidae), hoverflies (Syrphidae), ichneumon wasps (Ichneumonidae) and predatory bugs (Orius spp.) during the years 2008–2010. The trial was held in an organic open field located at the Faculty of Horticulture of Mendel University in Brno, Lednice, Czech Republic. The software Canoco (RDA analysis) was used in order to see the relations between plant and insect communities. Flowering plants A. graveolens, C. cyanus, C. officinalis, F. vulgare and F. esculentum were found to be the most attractive for the evaluated beneficial insects. The most abundant beneficial insects were hoverflies (562008, 1542009, 13242010) and ladybeetles (652008, 1162009, 5112010) followed by predatory bugs (142008, 472009, 1382010) and ichneumon wasps (202008, 142009, 822010).

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Spatio-Temporal Distribution of Cell Wall Components in the Placentas, Ovules and Female Gametophytes of Utricularia during Pollination

International Journal of Molecular Sciences ◽

10.3390/ijms22115622 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 22 (11) ◽

pp. 5622

Author(s):

Bartosz Jan Płachno ◽

Małgorzata Kapusta ◽

Piotr Świątek ◽

Krzysztof Banaś ◽

Vitor F. O. Miranda ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Pollen Tube ◽

Female Gametophyte ◽

Embryo Sac ◽

Temporal Distribution ◽

Arabinogalactan Proteins ◽

Central Cell ◽

Nutritive Tissue ◽

Pollen Tube Guidance ◽

Micropylar Canal

In most angiosperms, the female gametophyte is hidden in the mother tissues and the pollen tube enters the ovule via a micropylar canal. The mother tissues play an essential role in the pollen tube guidance. However, in Utricularia, the female gametophyte surpasses the entire micropylar canal and extends beyond the limit of the integument. The female gametophyte then invades the placenta and a part of the central cell has direct contact with the ovary chamber. To date, information about the role of the placenta and integument in pollen tube guidance in Utricularia, which have extra-ovular female gametophytes, has been lacking. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of the placenta, central cell and integument in pollen tube pollen tube guidance in Utricularia nelumbifolia Gardner and Utricularia humboldtii R.H. Schomb. by studying the production of arabinogalactan proteins. It was also determined whether the production of the arabinogalactan proteins is dependent on pollination in Utricularia. In both of the examined species, arabinogalactan proteins (AGPs) were observed in the placenta (epidermis and nutritive tissue), ovule (integument, chalaza), and female gametophyte of both pollinated and unpollinated flowers, which means that the production of AGPs is independent of pollination; however, the production of some AGPs was lower after fertilization. There were some differences in the production of AGPs between the examined species. The occurrence of AGPs in the placental epidermis and nutritive tissue suggests that they function as an obturator. The production of some AGPs in the ovular tissues (nucellus, integument) was independent of the presence of a mature embryo sac.

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