Phenotypical Characterization of a Mutant dea1 With Developmental Defect in Female Inflorescence and Mutantion Impact on Yield in Maize

The establishment of female inflorescence morphology is of great significance to the formation of final maize yield. defective ear1 (dea1) is a novel maize mutant with developmental defect of female inflorescence caused by natural variation. Morphological analysis revealed that the mutant dea1 was characterized as a “scar-like” crack on the adaxial side of the top of the ear, accounting for 28.6-100.0% of the ear length, with an average of 32.4%. The results of scanning electron microscope showed that there was collapse in the formation of paired spikelet primordium at the base of the axillary meristem. Most of investigated botanical and agronomical traits of dea1 were lower than those of wild type, except for ear length and hundred grain weight. The grain yield per ear of mutant dea1 was 35.93% lower than that of wild type, and the width of mutation crack contributed the most to the yield loss per ear. The identification of the mutant dea1 and the characteristically phenotypic analysis provide a theoretical basis for the study of the molecular regulation mechanism of ear development and the application of high-yield breeding in maize.The establishment of female inflorescence morphology is of great significance to the formation of final maize yield. defective ear1 (dea1) is a novel maize mutant with developmental defect of female inflorescence caused by natural variation. Morphological analysis revealed that the mutant dea1 was characterized as a “scar-like” crack on the adaxial side of the top of the ear, accounting for 28.6-100.0% of the ear length, with an average of 32.4%. The results of scanning electron microscope showed that there was collapse in the formation of paired spikelet primordium at the base of the axillary meristem. Most of investigated botanical and agronomical traits of dea1 were lower than those of wild type, except for ear length and hundred grain weight. The grain yield per ear of mutant dea1 was 35.93% lower than that of wild type, and the width of mutation crack contributed the most to the yield loss per ear. The identification of the mutant dea1 and the characteristically phenotypic analysis provide a theoretical basis for the study of the molecular regulation mechanism of ear development and the application of high-yield breeding in maize.

Interspecies transfer of syntenic RAMOSA1 orthologs and promoter cis sequences impacts maize inflorescence architecture

Grass inflorescences support floral structures that each bear a single grain, where variation in branch architecture directly impacts yield. The maize RAMOSA1 (ZmRA1) transcription factor acts as a key regulator of inflorescence development by imposing branch meristem determinacy. Here, we show RA1 transcripts accumulate in boundary domains adjacent to spikelet meristems in Sorghum bicolor (Sb) and Setaria viridis (Sv) inflorescences similar as in the developing maize tassel and ear. To evaluate functional conservation of syntenic RA1 orthologs and promoter cis sequences in maize, sorghum and setaria, we utilized interspecies gene transfer and assayed genetic complementation in a common inbred background by quantifying recovery of normal branching in highly ramified ra1-R mutants. A ZmRA1 transgene that includes endogenous upstream and downstream flanking sequences recovered normal tassel and ear branching in ra1-R. Interspecies expression of two transgene variants of the SbRA1 locus, modeled as the entire endogenous tandem duplication or just the non-frameshifted downstream copy, complemented ra1-R branching defects and induced novel fasciation and branch patterns. The SvRA1 locus lacks conserved, upstream noncoding cis sequences found in maize and sorghum; interspecies expression of an SvRA1 transgene did not or only partially recovered normal inflorescence forms. Driving expression of the SvRA1 coding region by the ZmRA1 upstream region, however, recovered normal inflorescence morphology in ra1-R. These data leveraging interspecies gene transfer suggest that cis-encoded temporal regulation of RA1 expression is a key factor in modulating branch meristem determinacy that ultimately impacts grass inflorescence architecture.

The Response of Callus Formation from Tacca Chantrieri Leaves with Various Concentrations of 2,4-D and BAP by In Vitro

The an annual herbaceous tropical plant which is one of the species of the genus Tacca from the Dioscoreaceae family is Tacca chantrieri. T. chantrieri has a unique inflorescence morphology like that of a bat. The people of Southeast China and Thailand have used by T. chantrieri rhizome as traditional medicine because the methanol extract contains secondary metabolites such as diarylheptanoids, pseudofurostan, withanolide, taccalonolide, and saponins. To maintain its sustainability, it is necessary to propagate T. chantrieri by using in vitro culture techniques such as callus culture. The purpose of this study was to determine the response of T. chantrieri leaf callus formation and to determine the optimal concentration with various concentrations of 2,4-D and BAP in vitro. This study used a completely randomized design consisting of control treatments, 1 and 2 mg L-1 2,4-D and concentrations of 0.5; 1.0; 1.5; 2.0 2,4-D combined with 3 mg L-1 BAP. The observations were made for 60 days after planting. The results showed that the concentration of 1.5 mg L-1 2,4-D + 3 mg L-1 BAP affected the percentage of live explants and the percentage of callus formation by 100% respectively, and the time of callus appeared 18.75 days after planting.

Floral morphology and anatomy of Fagus grandifolia subsp. mexicana (Fagaceae), an endangered-relict tree of the Mexican montane cloud forest

Background: This study is the first to examine the inflorescence, and the staminate and pistillate flowers of the Mexican beech, an endangered-relict tropical montane cloud tree species. Questions: Are there morphological and anatomical differences in Mexican beech's inflorescence and flowers in comparison with other beech species worldwide? Study species: Fagus grandifolia subsp. mexicana (Martínez) A.E. Murray) Study site and dates: Five Mexican beech stands from eastern Mexico, early February to early March 2017 and 2020. Methods: 400 Mexican beech floral buds and immature pistillate and staminate flowers in anthesis were collected and processed by light microscopy analysis and the pollen by scanning electron microscopy. Results: We found floral morphology and anatomy differences of this southernmost American beech species regarding the New- and Old-World taxa. We found that the inflorescence morphology of the Mexican beech is similar to some Asian beeches such as F. hayatae subsp. pashanica, F. lucida and F. longipetiolata. Notwithstanding, the staminate and pistillate flowers' anatomy is similar to that of F. grandifolia from Canada and the United States of America, F. sylvatica from Europe and F. crenata from Japan. Conclusions: The inflorescence and floral anatomical and morphological differences can be explained by possible hybridizations. Since only the pistillate and staminate flowers of F. sylvatica and F. grandifolia have been studied in detail, morphological, molecular and ecological studies of the Asian beech species are needed to achieve a better understanding of the floral morphology and anatomical evolution of these species and their relationship with the Mexican beech.

EDIBLE PINK-FRUITED TOMATO (LYCOPERSICON ESCULENTUM MILL. CONVAR. ESCULENTUM VAR. ROSEUM KHRAP.): SOURCE MATERIAL FOR BREEDING

This catalogue contains a description of morphological, biological and useful agronomic traits in 153 accessions of cultivated edible tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) with pink fruits from the VIR collection. The data were obtained in the course of many years in winter rack glasshouses and plastic greenhouses at Pushkin and Pavlovsk Laboratories of VIR (St. Petersburg). The catalogue has been intended to help breeders, researchers, experts and farmers in gaining knowledge about pink-fruited tomato genetic resources that have been accumulated in the VIR collection for almost a hundred years. Cultivars developed through scientific breeding and local varieties are quite diverse in their earliness, fruit shape and size, stem growth habit and pattern, leaf and inflorescence morphology, etc. Their diversity described in the catalogue has been systemized in accordance with the botanical classification developed by the author of the catalogue on the basis of long-term research into the collection.

Geographic Patterns In Pollen Production In The Plant Ring Species Euphorbia tithymaloides In The Caribbean

Abstract—We examine investment in male function in the context of geography and floral morphology in the plant ring species Euphorbia tithymaloides, which colonized the Caribbean from Mexico/Guatemala along two fronts that roughly correspond to the Greater and the Lesser Antilles and that meet in the vicinity of the Anegada Passage. Our results on investment in pollen relative to ovule production are consistent with E. tithymaloides relying on pollinators for reproduction across its range in the Caribbean. We document a geographic pattern of reduction in anther number and pollen:ovule ratios in populations of E. tithymaloides towards the Anegada Passage, which is consistent with a possible geographic transition towards a mixed breeding system where selfing has increased importance in this area where its two expansion fronts meet. The reduction in pollen production is correlated with inflorescence morphology, which converges to relatively shorter cyathia towards the Anegada Passage along both fronts. We discuss alternative scenarios and potential drivers of the patterns we document.

Inflorescence morphology and development of suweg (Amorphophallus paeoniifolius (Dennst.) Nicolson

Hanfayani T, Yuzammi, Hadiah JT. 2020. Inflorescence morphology and development of suweg (Amorphophallus paeoniifolius (Dennst.) Nicolson. Biodiversitas 21: 5835-5844. Inflorescence of Amorphophallus paeoniifolius (Dennst.) Nicolson consists of two main parts: spathe and spadix. Detailed information on its development, however, is not yet available. This study aimed to investigate the development and morphology of suweg’s inflorescence, to reveal the anthesis of male and female flowers, and to observe its insect visitors. The study observed 46 inflorescences, ten of which were measured for detailed developments. Inflorescences were observed from bud emergence to withering during one flowering cycle. The results showed that the flowering process included six phases which altogether required 22 to 36 days, namely the developments of inflorescence bud, cataphyll, spathe and spadix, appendix, fully bloomed inflorescence, and flowers anthesis. The inflorescence height including peduncle was 48–75 cm, spathe 19–50 cm long, spathe circle 65–176 cm, appendix 13–33 cm long, and appendix circle 45–80 cm. Three appendix forms were observed: ovate (43.48%), triangular conic (41.30%), and rounded (15.22%). Female flower anthesis occurred one day prior to male flower anthesis. Insect visitors found during anthesis were Lucilia sericata (Calliphoridae), Sarcophaga sp. (Sarcophagidae), and Trigona speciosa (Apidae).