Embryology and Reproductive Ecology of the Darling Lily, Crinum flaccidum Herbert

1990 ◽  
Vol 38 (5) ◽  
pp. 433 ◽  
Author(s):  
G Howell ◽  
N Prakash
Keyword(s):  
Pollen Grains ◽  
Mature Embryo ◽  
Microspore Mother Cell ◽  
Polygonum Type ◽  
Binucleate Cells ◽  
Cell Layers ◽  
Nectar Sugar ◽  
Endosperm Formation ◽  
Successive Cytokinesis ◽  
Seed Coats

In Crinum flaccidum the anthers are versatile and tetrasporangiate with a secretory tapetum of binucleate cells. Successive cytokinesis in microspore mother cell results in isobilateral and decussate microspore tetrads. The mature pollen grains are single, spheroidal, disulculate, echinate and 2-celled. In the mature anthers, fibrous thickenings develop not only in the endothecium but also in two or three middle cell layers and the connective tissue before latrorse dehiscence. A lobed tissue in each of the three locules of the ovary serves ovular and placental functions. Each extension of the 5-7 paired lobes represents an ategmic ovule. The development of the female gametophyte conforms to the Polygonum type. Usually only one gametophyte is present in each lobe but occasionally several may occur. Bulb growth is monopodial with normally three umbels produced per plant, each carrying an average of 10 flowers, only two or three of which are open at any one time. Nectar sugar concentration was measured at 14.2% (w/w), of which 44.8% of solids was sucrose and 3.9% either glucose or fructose. The protandrous flowers are phalenophilous, pollinated by sphingid moths. The endosperm formation is of the nuclear type. In the absence of seed coats and the nucellus at maturity, the outer layers of the endosperm become corky following the activity of a phellogen. Embryogeny appears to be of the Asterad type. The mature embryo is straight and chlorophyllous. The large (5.3 g) seeds are 89% water and show no dormancy, germinating without an external supply of water, sometimes while still on the parent plant.

The floral morphology and embryology of Themeda australis (R. Br.) Stapf

1964 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 157 ◽  
Author(s):  
PS Woodland
Keyword(s):  
Embryo Sac ◽  
Pollen Grains ◽  
Low Fertility ◽  
Linear Tetrad ◽  
Polygonum Type ◽  
Morphological Variations ◽  
Endosperm Formation ◽  
Secretory Type ◽  
Successive Cytokinesis ◽  
Mother Cells

A comparative study was carried out between diploid and tetraploid races of Themeda australis from Armidale and Cobar, respectively. Some morphological variations occur in both populations, but sporogenesis and gametogenesis are identical. The anther is tetrasporangiate and the development of its four-layered wall is described. The tapetum is of the secretory type and its cells become binucleate at the initiation of meiosis in the adjacent microspore mother cells which undergo successive cytokinesis. Microspore tetrads are usually isobilateral and the pollen grains are three-celled at dehiscence, which takes place by lateral longitudinal slits. The ovule is of a modified anatropous form and bitegmic, the broad micropyle being formed of both integuments. The single hypodermal archesporial cell develops directly into the megaspore mother cell and the nucellar epidermis undergoes periclinal and anticlinal divisions to form a conspicuous epistase. The chalaza1 megaspore of the linear tetrad gives rise to a Polygonum-type embryo sac. Material from the Armidale population showed one embryo sac per ovule, but two to five embryo sacs were present in that from Cobar. Embryogeny is typically graminaceous and endosperm formation is at first free-nuclear, later becoming cellular. Polyembryony follows fertilization of several embryo sacs within the same ovule. The reasons for low fertility of T. australis and poor germination of seeds are discussed.

Reproductive development in two species of Darwinia Rudge (Myrtaceae)

1969 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 215 ◽  
Author(s):  
N Prakash
Keyword(s):  
Embryo Sac ◽  
Pollen Grains ◽  
Reproductive Development ◽  
Outer Zone ◽  
Mature Embryo ◽  
Globular Embryo ◽  
Primary Endosperm Nucleus ◽  
Oil Glands ◽  
Polygonum Type ◽  
History Of

In Darwinia the floral parts are differentiated in a "calyx-orolla-gynoeciumandroecium" sequence. In individual buds stages of microsporogenesis markedly precede corresponding stages of megasporogenesis. The anther is tetrasporangiate with all sporangia lying in one plane. The secretory tapetum is one- to three-layered within the same microsporangium and a large number of Ubisch bodies are formed. The anthers dehisce by minute lateral pores and an ingenious mechanism helps disperse the twocelled pollen grains. A basal placenta in the single loculus of the ovary bears four ovules in D. micropetala and two in D. fascicularis. In both species, however, only one ovule is functional after fertilization. The fully grown ovules are anatropous, crassinucellar, and bitegmic; the inner integument forms the micropyle. The parietal tissue is most massive at the completion of megasporogenesis but is progressively destroyed later. The embryo sac follows the Polygonum type of developnlent and when mature is five-nucleate, the three antipodals being ephemeral. Following fertilization, the primary endosperm nucleus divides before the zygote. Subsequent nuclear divisions in the endosperm mother cell are synchronous and lead to a free-nuclear endosperm which becomes secondarily cellular, starting from the micropylar end at the time the globular embryo assumes an elongated shape. Embryogeny is irregular and the mature embryo is straight with a massive radicle and a hypocotyl which terminates in two barely recognizable cotyledons. Sometimes the minute cotyledons are borne on a narrow neck-like extension of the hypocotyl. A suspensor is absent. Both integuments are represented in the seed coat and only the outer layer of the outer and the inner layer of the inner integuments, with their thick-walled tanniniferous cells, remain in the fully grown seed. The ovary wall is demarcated into an outer zone containing oil glands surrounded by cells containing a tannin-like substance and an inner zone of spongy parenchyma. In the fruit this spongy zone breaks down completely but the outer zone is retained. The two species of Darwinia, while closely resembling each other in their embryology, differ significantly from other Myrtaceae. However, no taxonomic conclusions are drawn at this stage, pending enquiry into the life history of other members of the tribe Chamaelaucieae.

Embryology of the dioecious Australian endemic Lomandra longifolia (Lomandraceae)

2008 ◽  
Vol 56 (8) ◽  
pp. 651 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nabil M. Ahmad ◽  
Peter M. Martin ◽  
John M. Vella
Keyword(s):  
Middle Layer ◽  
Endosperm Development ◽  
Anther Wall ◽  
Polygonum Type ◽  
Cell Functions ◽  
Mature Ovule ◽  
Cell Layers ◽  
Nucellar Tissue ◽  
Successive Cytokinesis ◽  
Dermal Cells

Microsporogenesis, embryogeny and endosperm development of Lomandra longifolia Labill. are described in detail. The formation of the anther wall is the basic type composed of four cell layers, namely an epidermis, an endothecium, one middle layer and a tapetum. The tapetum layer has glandular, uninucleate cells. Successive cytokinesis follows meiosis, subsequently forming a tetrahedral tetrad of microspores. The ovule in each carpel is hemitropous, crassinucellate and bitegmic, with the micropyle formed by the inner integument. The archesporial cell divides periclinally to form the primary parietal and primary sporogenous cells. The sporogenous cell functions as the megaspore mother cell, whereas the parietal cell divides to give rise to two parietal layers. The mature megagametophyte, which has enlarged synergids and antipodals, is of the Polygonum type, with the normal complement of seven cells and eight nuclei. Nucellar tissue in the mature ovule consists of enlarged dermal cells and irregular subdermal cells surrounding a central strand of markedly smaller cells. Endosperm development is of the nuclear type. Embryo development is of the Graminad type, characterised by oblique zygotic and early pro-embryonic divisions.

scholarly journals Pollen tube contents from failed fertilization contribute to seed coat initiation in Arabidopsis

F1000Research ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. 348
Author(s):  
Xiaoyan Liu ◽  
Parakash Babu Adhikari ◽  
Ryushiro D. Kasahara
Keyword(s):  
Pollen Tube ◽  
Seed Coat ◽  
Pollen Grains ◽  
Molecular Evidence ◽  
Human Beings ◽  
Seed Formation ◽  
Normal Seed ◽  
Failed Fertilization ◽  
Endosperm Formation ◽  
Seed Coats

Plant seeds are essential for human beings, constituting 70% of carbohydrate resources worldwide; examples include rice, wheat, and corn. In angiosperms, fertilization of the egg by a sperm cell is required for seed formation; therefore, fertilization failure results in no seed formation, except in the special case of apomixis. Initially, plants produce many pollen grains inside the anthers; once the pollen grain is deposited onto the top of the pistil, the pollen tube elongates until it reaches the ovule. Generally, only one pollen tube is inserted into the ovule; however, we previously found that if fertilization by the first pollen tube fails, a second pollen tube could rescue fertilization via the so-called fertilization recovery system (FRS). Our previous reports also demonstrated that failed fertilization results in pollen tube-dependent ovule enlargement morphology (POEM), enlarged seeds, and partial seed coat formation if the pollen tube releases the pollen tube contents into the ovule. However, we have not determined whether all the ovules enlarge or produce seed coats if an ovule accepts the pollen tube contents. Therefore, we conducted a partial seed coat formation experiment taking into account both the FRS and POEM phenomena. Notably, the ratios of failed fertilization and the ovules with partial seed coats matched, indicating that all ovules initiate seed coat formation if the fertilization fails but the pollen tube contents enter the ovule. In addition, we confirmed that the agl62 mutant , defective in early endosperm formation, showed seed coat initiation with and without fertilization, indicating that for a normal seed coat initiation, fertilization is not required; however, for the completion of normal seed coat formation, both normal fertilization and endosperm formation are required. Further molecular evidence is required to understand these phenomena because very few factors related to FRS and POEM have been identified.

scholarly journals A Contribution to the Embryology of Rhynchelytrum repens (Willd) C.E. Hubbard

1970 ◽  
Vol 7 (7) ◽  
pp. 37-40 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammed Inamuddin ◽  
Beatrice Were ◽  
Mohammad Saquib
Keyword(s):  
Mother Cell ◽  
Female Gametophyte ◽  
Pollen Grains ◽  
Middle Layer ◽  
Microspore Mother Cell ◽  
Polygonum Type ◽  
Dense Cytoplasm ◽  
Scientific World ◽  
Tapetal Cells ◽  
Functional Megaspore

The present investigation deals with morphological and embryological studies of Rhynchelytrum repens (Willd) C.E. Hubbard. The development of anther walls are found to be Monocotyledonous type. The tapetal cells are substantially large, glandular and uninucleate. The middle layer is ephemeral and their cells are small in size. It is sandwiched between endothecial and tapetal layer. The endothecial cells are large and develop fibrous thickenings. The microspore mother cell undergoes two successive reduction divisions, giving rise to isobilateral microspore tetrad. The tetrad separates and give rise to four pollen grains. Occasionally, the anther show degenerating pollen grains before dehiscence. Formation of Ubisch's bodies has also been observed. The pollen grains shed at three celled stage. The exine is thick while intine is thin. The ovule is anatropous, bitegmic and crassinucellate. The female archesporial cell becomes large with dense cytoplasm. It directly functions as megaspore mother cell and undergoes two meiotic divisions to produce a linear megaspore tetrad. The micropylar three cells degenerate and chalazal one becomes functional. The chalazal functional megaspore undergoes three mitotic divisions without wall formation and produces 8-nucleate embryosac. Such 8-nucleate embryosac organizes into Polygonum type of embryosac. It is interesting to note that some somatic cells of the ovule undergo nuclear divisions and give rise to facultative apomictic embryosacs. Key Words: Eldoret; Microsporangium; Ubisch's bodies; Facultative apomixis; Female gametophyte. DOI: 10.3126/sw.v7i7.3822 Scientific World Vol.7(7) 2009 pp.37-40

Life history of Tetragonia tetragonioides (Pall.) O. Kuntze

1967 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
pp. 413 ◽  
Author(s):  
N Prakash
Keyword(s):  
Cell Formation ◽  
Embryo Sac ◽  
Pollen Grains ◽  
Mature Embryo ◽  
Polygonum Type ◽  
Innermost Layer ◽  
Glandular Cells ◽  
History Of ◽  
Mother Cells ◽  
Tetragonia Tetragonioides

Accessory flowers arise from the surface of inferior ovaries in 25 % of the flowers of Tetragonia, suggesting an axial nature of the inferior ovary. The ovary is six to nine-loculed, with a single pendulous ovule in each locule. The anther is tetrasporangiate. The innermost layer of the four-layered wall constitutes a secretory tapetum with multinucleate cells. Cytokinesis in microspore mother cells is simultaneous and results in tetrahedral or decussate tetrads. The pollen grains are shed at the three-celled stage. The ovules are bitegminal, crassinucellar, and anacampylotropus. The funiculus is long and bears an obturator of glandular cells. The inner integument forms the micropyle and forms a collar at the distal end. A nucellar cap is present. The nucellus persists in the seed as perisperm. The archesporium is multicelled, although only a single cell develops. Following meiosis the megaspore mother cell gives rise to a linear row of three or four megaspores, of which only the chalaza1 functions to form an embryo sac of the Polygonum type. The endosperm is of the Nuclear type and eventually assumes a horseshoe shape. Cell formation is restricted to the micropylar region, the rest remaining nuclear until consumed by the embryo. The embryogeny is of the Solanad type, and the mature embryo is curved and dicotyledonous.

scholarly journals Pollen tube contents from failed fertilization contribute to seed coat initiation in Arabidopsis

F1000Research ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. 348 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaoyan Liu ◽  
Parakash Babu Adhikari ◽  
Ryushiro D. Kasahara
Keyword(s):  
Pollen Tube ◽  
Seed Coat ◽  
Pollen Grains ◽  
Molecular Evidence ◽  
Human Beings ◽  
Seed Formation ◽  
Normal Seed ◽  
Failed Fertilization ◽  
Endosperm Formation ◽  
Seed Coats

Plant seeds are essential for human beings, constituting 70% of carbohydrate resources worldwide; examples include rice, wheat, and corn. In angiosperms, fertilization of the egg by a sperm cell is required for seed formation; therefore, fertilization failure results in no seed formation, except in the special case of apomixis. Initially, plants produce many pollen grains inside the anthers; once the pollen grain is deposited onto the top of the pistil, the pollen tube elongates until it reaches the ovule. Generally, only one pollen tube is inserted into the ovule; however, we previously found that if fertilization by the first pollen tube fails, a second pollen tube could rescue fertilization via the so-called fertilization recovery system (FRS). Our previous reports also demonstrated that failed fertilization results in pollen tube-dependent ovule enlargement morphology (POEM), enlarged seeds, and partial seed coat formation if the pollen tube releases the pollen tube contents into the ovule. However, we have not determined whether all the ovules enlarge or produce seed coats if an ovule accepts the pollen tube contents. Therefore, we conducted a partial seed coat formation experiment taking into account both the FRS and POEM phenomena. Notably, the ratios of failed fertilization and the ovules with partial seed coats matched, indicating that all ovules initiate seed coat formation if the fertilization fails but the pollen tube contents enter the ovule. In addition, we confirmed that the agl62 mutant , defective in early endosperm formation, showed seed coat initiation with and without fertilization, indicating that for a normal seed coat initiation, fertilization is not required; however, for the completion of normal seed coat formation, both normal fertilization and endosperm formation are required. Further molecular evidence is required to understand these phenomena because very few factors related to FRS and POEM have been identified.

Embryological studies in the compositae, I. Sporogenesis, Gametogenesis, and Embryogeny in Cotula australis (Less.) Hook. F

1962 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
GL Davis
Keyword(s):  
Mother Cell ◽  
Megaspore Mother Cell ◽  
Embryo Sac ◽  
Subsequent Development ◽  
Pollen Grains ◽  
Archesporial Cell ◽  
Polygonum Type ◽  
Wall Formation ◽  
Chalazal Megaspore

Cotula australis has a discoid heterogamous capitulum in which the outermost three whorls of florets are female and naked. The bisexual disk florets are fully fertile and have a four-lobed corolla with four shortly epipetalous stamens. The anthers contain only two microsporangia. Wall formation and microsporogenesis are described and the pollen grains are shed at the three-celled condition. The ovule is teguinucellate and the hypodermal archesporial cell develops directly as the megaspore mother cell. Megasporogenesis is normal and the monosporio embryo sac develops from the chalazal megaspore. Breakdown of the nucellar epidermis takes place when the embryo sac is binucleate and its subsequent development follows the Polygonum type. The synergids extend deeply into the micropyle and one persists until late in embryogeny as a haustorium. The development of the embryo is of the Asterad type, and the endosperm is cellular. C. coronopifolia agrees with C. australis in the presence of only two microsporangia in each anther and the development of a synergid haustorium.

Apomixis and abnormal anther development in Calotis lappulacea Benth. (Compositae)

1968 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
GL Davis
Keyword(s):  
New South ◽  
Embryo Sac ◽  
Pollen Grains ◽  
Anther Wall ◽  
Male Gametes ◽  
Globular Stage ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Vertical Division ◽  
Endosperm Formation ◽  
Embryo Sac Formation

A comparative study was made of material collected from four localities in New South Wales and Queensland and a number of embryological aberrations were found to be common to all districts. During microsporogenesis, certain tapetal cells not only failed to contribute to the tapetal periplasmodium but, after increasing in size, they separated from the anther wall and resembled one-, two-, or four-nucleate embryo sacs developing among the microspores. In one anther a structure was present which was very similar to a fully differentiated embryo sac. Although the pollen grains of some anthers contained male gametes, most anthers dehisced when the pollen was two-celled and some shrivelled soon after meiosis. Megasporogenesis was followed by the formation of linear tetrads of megaspores, but embryo sac formation was the result of somatic apospory and C. lappulacea appears to be an obligate apomict. The enlarging somatic cell usually invades the nucellar lobe and replaces the megaspores but one or more such celis commonly develop also in the chalaza, and up to eight embryo sacs were found in one ovule. Enlargement of a chalazal embryo sac sometimes resulted in penetration of the ovular epidermis and its invasion of the loculus as a haustorium-like structure. Extrusion of a developing embryo sac through the micropyle was common. Embryogeny is of the Asterad type, but vertical division of the terminal cell ca was delayed until after the basal cell cb had given rise to superposed cells m and ci. Polyembryony was common but only one embryo in each ovule reached maturity. Endosperm formation was independent of embryogeny but unless it was initiated before the globular stage of the embryo, the embryo sac collapsed and the embryo degenerated.

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