Seed development and its relationship to fruit structure in species of Bromelioideae (Bromeliaceae) with fleshy fruits

Abstract In Bromeliaceae, fruit type and seed morphology have been used to distinguish the subfamilies. We studied seed and fruit development of three species of Bromelioideae (Aechmea bromeliifolia, Billbergia distachia and Neoregelia bahiana) relating seed characters to fruit structure. Aechmea bromeliifolia has few ovules per locule inserted within the apical portion of the ovary and the seeds are larger, with a long chalazal appendage, growing towards the fruit base. In B. distachia and N. bahiana, the ovules are numerous and subapically to centrally inserted in the ovary; the seeds are smaller, with a radial disposition, and the chalazal appendages are short (B. distachia) or absent (N. bahiana). The chalazal appendages grow during seed development, and thus their presence/length may be related to the number of ovules/seeds per locule and to the disposition of the ovules inside the locules. The fruits are berries, and juiciness is promoted by mesocarp cells and by substances secreted inside the locules by the placental obturator at later stages of fruit development. These fruit and seed features are strategies for zoochory and provide evidence that each species studied is dispersed by a different type of animal.

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The calmodulin-like protein, CML39, is involved in regulating seed development, germination, and fruit development in Arabidopsis

Plant Molecular Biology ◽

10.1007/s11103-018-0703-3 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 96 (4-5) ◽

pp. 375-392 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

Ubaid Midhat ◽

Michael K. Y. Ting ◽

Howard J. Teresinski ◽

Wayne A. Snedden

Keyword(s):

Seed Development ◽

Fruit Development

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Anatomical and genetic bases underlying convergent evolution of fleshy and dry dehiscent fruits in Cestrum and Brugmansia (Solanaceae)

The International Journal of Developmental Biology ◽

10.1387/ijdb.200080np ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 52 ◽

Author(s):

Natalí Hernández-Ciro ◽

Natalia Pabón-Mora

Keyword(s):

Fruit Development ◽

Convergent Evolution ◽

Developmental Stages ◽

Expression Patterns ◽

Fleshy Fruits ◽

Anatomical Features ◽

Brugmansia Suaveolens ◽

Gene Expression Analyses ◽

Perform Gene Expression ◽

Genetic Bases

Background. The mechanisms controlling evolutionary shifts between dry and fleshy fruits in angiosperms are poorly understood. In Solanaceae, Cestrum and Brugmansia represent cases of convergent evolution of fleshy and dry fruits, respectively. Here we study the anatomical and genetic bases of the independent origin of fleshy fruits in Cestrum and the reversion to dry dehiscent fruits in Brugmansia. We also characterize the expression of candidate fruit development genes, including ALCATRAZ/SPATULA, FRUITFULL, HECATE1/2/3, REPLUMLESS and SHATTERPROOF.Methods. We identify anatomical changes to establish developmental stages in the ovary-to-fruit transition in Cestrum nocturnum and Brugmansia suaveolens. We generate reference transcriptomes for both species, isolate homologs for all genes in the fruit genetic regulatory network (GRN) and perform gene expression analyses for ALC/SPT, FUL, HEC1/2/3, RPL and SHP throughout fruit development. Finally, we compare our results to expression patterns found in typical capsules of Nicotiana tabacum and berries of Solanum lycopersicum available in public repositories.Results. We have identified homologous, homoplasious and unique anatomical features in C.nocturnum and B. suaveolens fruits, resulting in their final appearance. Expression patterns suggest that FUL, SHP and SPT might control homologous characteristics, while ALC and RPL likely contribute to homoplasious anatomical features.Conclusions. The convergent anatomical features in Cestrum and Brugmansia fruits are likely the result of changes in ALC and RPL expression patterns. The fruit GRN changes considerably in these genera when compared to typical capsules and berries of Solanaceae, particularly in B. suaveolens, where expression of FUL2 and RPL1 is lacking.

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THE HEDYOTIS–OLDENLANDIA–KOHAUTIA COMPLEX (RUBIACEAE) IN NEPAL: A STUDY OF FRUIT, SEED AND POLLEN CHARACTERS AND THEIR TAXONOMIC SIGNIFICANCE

Edinburgh Journal of Botany ◽

10.1017/s0960428609990035 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 66 (3) ◽

pp. 371-390 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

S. Neupane ◽

S. Dessein ◽

T. J. Motley

Keyword(s):

Pollen Grains ◽

Seed Morphology ◽

Marked Variation ◽

Taxonomic Significance ◽

Pollen Characters ◽

Electron And Light Microscopy ◽

Seed Characters ◽

Fruit Dehiscence ◽

Natural Groups ◽

Scanning Electron

Pollen and seed characters of 12 Nepalese representatives of the Hedyotis–Oldenlandia–Kohautia complex (Spermacoceae s.l.; Rubiaceae) were investigated morphologically using scanning electron and light microscopy. The members of the complex were found to show remarkable variation in fruit, seed and pollen features. Pollen grains were all colporate with the aperture number varying from 3–4 to occasionally 5. The ectoaperture was a colpus, and the endoaperture was an endocingulum, a lalongate endocolpus or an endocolpus combined with an annulus around the mesoporus. Sexine ornamentation was variable, being perforate, reticulate or microreticulate. Three species were found to have a double reticulum. Supratectal elements were generally absent, but sometimes muri were beset with granules. Seeds were numerous per capsule, small and non-crateriform. Three types of seed were distinguished based on shape: (1) lenticular with a narrow wing-like margin, (2) trigonous, and (3) globose/subglobose. Trigonous seeds exhibited marked variation in colour, size and shape. On the basis of the pollen and seed characters, used in combination with the type of fruit dehiscence, five natural groups are identified for Nepalese taxa. The generic status of Hedyotis, Oldenlandia and Kohautia is maintained but some species are transferred from Hedyotis to Oldenlandia. Pollen and seed morphology, together with the type of fruit dehiscence, proved to be helpful in delimiting supra- and infrageneric groups within the Hedyotis–Oldenlandia–Kohautia complex.

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Comparative seed morphology of the Antillean genus Calycogonium (Melastomataceae: Miconieae) as a source of characters to untangle its complex taxonomy

Phytotaxa ◽

10.11646/phytotaxa.166.4.1 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 166 (4) ◽

pp. 241 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

ELDIS R. BÉCQUER ◽

FABIÁN A. MICHELANGELI ◽

THOMAS BORSCH

Keyword(s):

Phylogenetic Analyses ◽

Phylogenetic Reconstruction ◽

Seed Morphology ◽

Flower Morphology ◽

Suitable Material ◽

Molecular Phylogenetic ◽

Species Groups ◽

The Caribbean ◽

Seed Characters ◽

Shape And Size

In order to assess seed morphology 47 species of Miconieae (Melastomataceae) from the Antilles were studied. The majority of these species belong to Calycogonium, a complex genus that has been shown to be polyphyletic, but for which we lack for many species any recent and suitable material for molecular systematics studies. A better understanding of homoplastic versus synapomorphic seed characters may therefore be helpful to illuminate the affinities of such species. Some taxa from Clidemia, Miconia, Ossaea, Pachyanthus and Tetrazygia were also sampled due to their morphological similarities with some species of Calycogonium. Variable seed characters include overall shape and size, raphe shape and size, and testa sculpturing. Based on these characters we grouped the species in five seed types, and an additional three species were found to have distinctive seeds that were not grouped with any other species. Species with identical seed types often belong to more than one genus as currently classified. There are five groups of species within Calycogonium characterized by similar seed morphology but none of the respective seed types is exclusive to the genus. Some of these seed types correlate well with previously proposed subgeneric groups of Calycogonium based on flower morphology and presences and type of leaf domatia. While the occurrence of some seed characters and states matches species groups in Calycogonium also found with molecular phylogenetic analyses, seed morphology generally indicates relationships of Calycogonium and allied taxa of the Caribbean clade that are not completely reflected by the current generic classification. The study provides a matrix for seed characters of the included species that will serve further phylogenetic reconstruction and analyses of character evolution.

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Development and morphology of the fruit and seed of the hemiparasite genus Jodina (Cervantesiaceae)

Anales del Jardín Botánico de Madrid ◽

10.3989/ajbm.2444 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 74 (1) ◽

pp. 051

Author(s):

María Luján Luna ◽

Gabriela E. Giudice ◽

Mariana A. Grossi ◽

Diego G. Gutiérrez

Keyword(s):

South America ◽

Seed Development ◽

Monotypic Genus ◽

Stages Of Development ◽

Fruit Type ◽

Fruit Wall ◽

Sem Studies

The monotypic genus Jodina is endemic to central and southeastern South America, common in forests and scrubland environments. The fruit type in Jodina is controversial since it has been described at different stages of development. The main objective of this work was to analyze the morphology of the fruit of J. rhombifolia during its maturation to attain a consensus about its type. Also characteristics of seed development and anatomy were analyzed in detail. Material was processed according to conventional techniques for LM and SEM studies. The fruit of J. rhombifolia is a pseudodrupe since the ovary is half-inferior; the fleshy layer of the pericarp is constituted by an increase of the nectary disk whereas the stony layer is represented by the mesocarp. Participation of the nectary disk as part of the fruit wall has not been mentioned previously. The seed is “naked” —the integument disintegrates during development— and the resulting structure is a pyrene. The interpretations made by other authors on the fruit of Jodina are also discussed.

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Pollen grains and seed-morphology as related to Biochemical Patterns in five species of genus Ocimum L (Lamiaceae Juss.) of Saudi Arabia

Journal of Phytology ◽

10.19071/jp.2016.v8.3131 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 8 ◽

pp. 42

Author(s):

Wael Taha Kasem

Keyword(s):

Seed Protein ◽

Pollen Grains ◽

Seed Morphology ◽

Protein Profiles ◽

Electrophoretic Patterns ◽

Sds Page ◽

Exine Ornamentation ◽

Seed Characters ◽

Molecular Patterns ◽

Scanning Electron

This study aims to investigate the pollen and seed characters by light microscopy (LM) and scanning electron microscope (SEM) as related to biochemical data of seed protein and esterase isoenzymes by SDS-PAGE technique in the five Saudi Arabian Ocimum L. species. The detailed description for pollen and seed in addition electrophoretic patterns were conducted by means of numerical analyses based on thirty-nine parameters. The pollen grains were zonocolpate, hexacolpate, prolate to subprolate. Three types of exine ornamentation were recognized, perforate, reticulate and granulate. Also, The periclinal, the anticlinal and the boundaries between cells are described by the aid of SEM which exhibited four main distinct types of nutlets sculpture undulate, quirky, circular and straight. Molecular patterns of protein profiles and esterase (EC.3.1.1.1) showed that esterase could be considered as positive markers than protein, minimum and maximum gene / gene expression of esterase isoenzymes are demonstrated. The relationships between the studied taxa were demonstrated as a phenogram.

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Seed Development in Lesquerella fendleri (L.)

HortScience ◽

10.21273/hortsci.44.5.1415 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 44 (5) ◽

pp. 1415-1418 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Grace Q. Chen ◽

Louisa Vang ◽

Jiann-Tsyh Lin

Keyword(s):

Molecular Weight ◽

Seed Development ◽

Seed Proteins ◽

Stage Iv ◽

Germination Percentage ◽

Seed Morphology ◽

Low Molecular Weight ◽

Fresh Weight ◽

Lesquerella Fendleri ◽

Early Stages

The morphological, physiological, and biochemical changes during seed development of Lesquerella fendleri were investigated from 7 days after pollination (DAP) to desiccation. The entire course of seed development lasted ≈49 days and it can be divided into seven sequential stages (I to VII). During the early stages (I to III, 7 to 21 DAP), seed grew rapidly, showing a dramatic increase in size and fresh weight. They contained ≈75% water. During midmaturation stages (IV to V, 28 to 35 DAP), storage lipids, proteins, and other components of dry weights accumulated at maximum rates. The accumulation curves followed a sigmoidal pattern during seed development. As a result of water loss, fresh weight dropped significantly when seed progressed to late-maturation/desiccation stages (VI to VII, 42 to 49 DAP). The size of the seed decreased slightly and the color changed from green to orange–brown. Seed proteins were also analyzed using SDS-PAGE. Proteins with high molecular weights were prominent in developing seed at early stages (I to III). At Stage IV (28 DAP), proteins with low molecular weight appeared, whereas the high-molecular-weight proteins decreased in proportion. These low-molecular-weight proteins became predominant throughout the remaining stages of seed development. Forty-seven percent of freshly harvested seed at 35 DAP were able to germinate after 7 days incubation. The germination percentage increased to a maximum of 95% at 42 DAP after 7 days incubation. The relationships among seed morphology, reserve synthesis, and germination are discussed.

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Systematic significance of seed morphology in Acanthophyllum (Caryophyllaceae: tribe Caryophylleae) in Iran

Phytotaxa ◽

10.11646/phytotaxa.387.2.3 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 387 (2) ◽

pp. 105-118 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

ATEFEH PIRANI ◽

SHAHIN ZARRE ◽

RICHARD RABELER ◽

MOSTAFA ASSADI ◽

MOHAMMAD REZA JOHARCHI ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Morphological Characteristics ◽

Morphological Characters ◽

Seed Morphology ◽

Individual Species ◽

Infrageneric Classification ◽

Additional Section ◽

Different Populations ◽

Seed Characters ◽

High Degree ◽

Natural Groups

Acanthophyllum, with ca. 90 spiny cushion-forming species, is one of the largest genera of Caryophyllaceae. Although taxonomic utility of seed morphology has already been highlighted in different genera of Caryophyllaceae, the systematic value of seed characters in Acanthophyllum has not been adequately addressed. In order to evaluate the application of seed morphology in infrageneric classification of Acanthophyllum, we surveyed seed characters in the five Iranian sections of Acanthophyllum. Seed morphology of 32 accessions of Acanthophyllum representing 21 species and four sections were investigated using scanning electron microscopy. Seed morphological characters of two species from one additional section were included based on previous studies in the Caryophyllaceae. Seeds in the majority of examined species are oblong in outline. Five types of seed surface can be considered: reticulate, reticulate-papillate, colliculate, colliculate-papillate, and colliculate-columellate. Papillae type is a reliable character for separation of certain natural groups within Acanthophyllum. Seed features provided strong evidences for separating sections, especially the following ones: Acanthophyllum, Macrostegia and Pleiosperma, whose seeds showed a high degree of uniformity among the sampled species. Morphological characteristics of seeds were less useful for discriminating Acanthophyllum species. While seed characters are consistent within individual populations, they can vary among different populations of an individual species. Our results show that variation in seed morphological characters are in agreement with phylogenetic patterns within Acanthophyllum.

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Morpho-chemical divergence and fatty acid profile of shea tree seeds (Vitellaria paradoxa) collected from different locations in Kwara State, Nigeria

Acta Botanica Croatica ◽

10.2478/botcro-2019-0002 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 78 (1) ◽

pp. 17-24

Author(s):

David Adedayo Animasaun ◽

Stephen Oyedeji ◽

Kehinde Stephen Olorunmaiye ◽

Musibau A. Azeez ◽

Idowu Abdulfatah Tijani ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Fatty Acids ◽

Fatty Acid ◽

Fatty Acid Profile ◽

Seed Oil ◽

Ethyl Oleate ◽

Acid Value ◽

Seed Morphology ◽

Morphological Data ◽

Vitellaria Paradoxa ◽

Seed Characters

Abstract The present study characterizes seed-related traits, phytochemical, physiochemical parameters and fatty acid profile of shea (Vitellaria paradoxa) seeds collected from the Kosubosu, Fufu and Sare areas of Kwara State, Nigeria to determine the effects of microclimate on seed morphology, biochemical and oil constituents. Seed morphological data were analyzed for variability. Seed oil was extracted for phytochemical constituents, physicochemical properties, and fatty acid profiling by gas chromatography equipped with mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Results showed intra and inter-locational variations in seed characters. Most fruits had 1–2 seeds. Seeds were predominantly brown and very few were dark brown. Phytochemicals and physicochemical parameters of the seed oil varied with place of collection. Alkaloid, saponin, tannin and phytate contents ranged between 0.79–0.84, 1.20–1.26, 1.48–1.56 and 0.15–0.18 mg g−1 respectively. The density of the oil was less than that of water, acid value ranged from 10.58–13.56 mg KOH g−1 and iodine values were between 36.63 to 40.32 g I2 (100 g)–1. Saponification values lie between 160.39 and 184.14 mg KOH g−1; and free fatty acid was within 5.32–6.81 %. Peroxide, ɑ-tocopherol, total phenol and oxalate values as well as viscosity of the oil also varied; however, refractive index was similar. Ethyl oleate and octadecanoic acids were present and most abundance in all the locations, while glycidol stearate was only found in Fufu samples with three other fatty acids. Five fatty acids were present in Kosubosu, while Sare had only two. The results obtained in the present study indicate that shea oil could be used for medicinal, nutritional and industrial purposes. Since seed characters, phytochemical, physicochemical and fatty acid compositions varied with the microclimate, environmental and micro-ecological conditions should be considered when collecting seeds for oil utilization.

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Macro and micro-morphological characteristics of Plantago seeds and its implication for species identification

Current Botany ◽

10.19071/cb.2017.v8.3243 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 8 ◽

Author(s):

Ashutosh KUMAR Verma ◽

Neelam Gautam Kumar Avinash Bharti

Keyword(s):

Electron Microscope ◽

Cell Shape ◽

Morphological Characteristics ◽

Morphological Characters ◽

Seed Morphology ◽

Cavity Surface ◽

Seed Shape ◽

Surface Ornamentation ◽

Seed Characters ◽

Scanning Electron

Seed morphology of five species of Plantago (P. psyllium, P.ovata, P. lanceolata, P. major and P. arenaria) was examined under scanning electron microscope. Macro- and micro-morphological characters, including seed shape, colour, size, shape of cavity, surface ornamentation and epidermal cell shape are presented. Marked difference among the species noted with respect of considered traits and a key for the identification of the investigated taxa based on seed characters is provided.

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