Molecular Control of Carpel Development in the Grass Family

Carpel is the ovule-bearing female reproductive organ of flowering plants and is required to ensure its protection, an efficient fertilization, and the development of diversified types of fruits, thereby it is a vital element of most food crops. The origin and morphological changes of the carpel are key to the evolution and adaption of angiosperms. Progresses have been made in elucidating the developmental mechanisms of carpel establishment in the model eudicot plant Arabidopsis thaliana, while little and fragmentary information is known in grasses, a family that includes many important crops such as rice (Oryza sativa), maize (Zea mays), barley (Hordeum vulgare), and wheat (Triticum aestivum). Here, we highlight recent advances in understanding the mechanisms underlying potential pathways of carpel development in grasses, including carpel identity determination, morphogenesis, and floral meristem determinacy. The known role of transcription factors, hormones, and miRNAs during grass carpel formation is summarized and compared with the extensively studied eudicot model plant Arabidopsis. The genetic and molecular aspects of carpel development that are conserved or diverged between grasses and eudicots are therefore discussed.

Kapasitas Reproduksi Mencit Betina (Mus musculus L.) Setelah Pemberian Infus Batang Tabat Barito (Ficus deltoidea Jack.)

Tabat barito (Ficus deltoidea Jack.) is vastly used to induce sexual aroused (aphrodisiacs) and effect on female reproductive organ. The aim of this research was performed to examine the effects of bark tabat barito infuse on reproductive capacities female mice. Fifteen of female mice were devided randomly into 5 groups, respectively. The treatment dosages were control, placebo, 50%, 75% and 100%. Infuse and aquades administrated orally 0.5 ml/hari for 5 estrouse cycles. Female mice were mated (1:3). At the eighteen days of gestation, female mice were sacrificed and observed, covered the weight of mice, uterus, liver; the total number of fetus, their weight and length body. The statistical analysis was performed using ANOVA and DMRT test. The result of this study indicated that infuse of bark tabat barito (Ficus deltoidea Jack) increasing the reproductive capacities but no significant. The weight of mice, uterus, liver between control and treatment no different (P> 0.05) but for total number of fetus in control 8.00 + 1.00, whereas dosages 50%, 75% and 100% were 8.67 + 0.58, 11.67 + 1.16 and 10.00 + 1.00, respectively. In total number of fetus different in 70% dosage to others, and total number of fetus in 100% dosage are significant different with control and 70% dosage.Key words: Tabat barito, aphrodisiacs, progesterone, reproductive capacities.