Megasporogenesis and megagametogenesis in Pelargonium × hortorum

1973 ◽  
Vol 51 (3) ◽  
pp. 607-612 ◽  
Author(s):  
Annie H. Tsai ◽  
Patricia M. Harney ◽  
R. L. Peterson

The ovary of Pelargonium × hortorum contains five pairs of superposed ovules in five locules. These ovules are bitegmic and crassinucellar and the upper ovule of each pair is campylotropous while the lower one is anatropous. A single archesporial cell functions directly as the megaspore mother cell. Meiotic division of the megaspore mother cell results in the formation of a linear tetrad of megaspores of which the chalazal megaspore is functional. Embryo sac development is of the polygonum type. Rapid degeneration of the three antipodals occurs followed by the fusion of the two polar nuclei. Therefore, the mature embryo sac contains the egg, the two synergids, and the fused polar nucleus. Double fertilization takes place. Ninety-two percent of the fertilized ovules of P. × hortorum cv. ‘Purple Heart’ are found in the upper position.The two integuments are initiated before the differentiation of the archesporial cell. Cells of the outer layer of the outer integument and the inner layer of the inner integument deposit tannins. The nucellus develops through divisions of the parietal cells of the nucellar epidermal cells.

1962 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
GL Davis

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.


2021 ◽  
Vol 45 (2) ◽  
pp. 177-184
Author(s):  
Yong Chen ◽  
Xiaofeng Wang ◽  
Liang Li ◽  
Chengqi Ao

The formation of integuments, megasporogenesis and megagametogenesis in Dendrobium catenatum, an economically important orchid, are observed. After pollination, mitotic cell divisions of the placental epidermis result in the formation of a branching system of outgrowths. The tip of each branch consists of an archesporial cell derived from the differentiation of the terminal subepidermal nucellar cell. It differentiates directly into a megasporocyte. The first division of the meiosis of the megasporocyte produces a dyad approximately equal in size, in which the micropylar cell promptly degenerates. The second meiotic division of the remaining dyad cell results in the formation of two megaspores of unequal size. The larger chalazal cell becomes functional and eventually develops into a mature megagametophyte. The development of the megagametophyte conforms to the Monosporic Polygonum type. The final arrangement of the mature embryo sac conforms to a sevencelled/ eight-nucleate structure. The mature ovule is bitegmic, tenuinucellate and has an anatropous orientation. In the present study, we also discuss the differences between three main types of embryo sac development and the improvement of section techniques.


2017 ◽  
pp. 5
Author(s):  
Marcelina García-Aguilar ◽  
E. Mark Engleman ◽  
Eulogio Pimienta-Barrios

The genus Tagetes reproduces sexually by seed, but recent morphological and hybridization studies in Tagetes patula suggest an apomictic type of reproduction (seed development without fertilization). In order to determine the sexual or apomictic origen of the embryo, we have studied megasporogenesis, megagametogenesis and the early development of the embryo. Tagetes patula L. has a typical ovule for the family Asteraceae: anatropous, unitegmic, tenuinucellate and with basal placentation. A single hypodermal archesporial cell develops directly as the megaspore mother cell. Megaspogenesis is normal and embryo sac develops from the chalazal megaspore. The embryo sac is of the Polygonum type. Female ray flowers show irregularities in megagametophyte development such as formation of more than eight nuclei, inverted polarity and incomplete differentiation of the megagametophyte cells in mature flowers. These irregularities do not necessarily prove apomictic reproduction in Tagetes patula.


2003 ◽  
Vol 16 (5) ◽  
pp. 633 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michelle A. Murphy

Nomenclatural and taxonomic problems are common among members of the tribe Triticeae and in particular the genus Elymus L. For the Australian representatives of this genus, confusion surrounds the number of taxa present, and which literature belongs to which 'taxon'. The literature indicates at least four major taxa: (1) long-awned forms of E. scaber var. scaber equated to E. rectisetus, (2) shorter-awned forms of E. scaber var. scaber, (3) the very short-awned E. multiflorus and (4) E. scaber var. plurinervis. In addition, a form intermediate between the long- and short-awned forms of E. scaber, as well as populations containing polymorphic forms have been reported. A recent taxonomic treatment of the species complex identified a fifth taxon, E. sp. A. This taxon has previously been identified as E. scaber or E. multiflorus. The current study examined 500 pistils from megaspore mother cell to mature embryo sac, somatic and haploid chromosome numbers, and seed set of nine populations of E. scaber var. scaber sensu lato (common wheatgrass). They included forms equating to E. rectisetus, E. scaber and E. sp. A, a population with intermediate characteristics, and three polymorphic populations. Taxon (1) above is apomictic; taxon (2) contains two entities, one a facultative apomict encompassing the intermediate and polymorphic populations, and the other, the sexual E. sp. A. Exclusive sexuality was also confirmed for material of (3) and (4).


1977 ◽  
Vol 25 (6) ◽  
pp. 615 ◽  
Author(s):  
N Prakash ◽  
EJ McAlister

In Bauera capitata Ser. ex DC. the anthers are tetrasporangiate with a three- or four-layered anther wall. The tapetum is glandular and its cells remain uninucleate. Tannin accumulates in the epidermis and the endothecium, and many connective cells in addition contain druses. Simultaneous cytokinesis leads to tetrahedral and isobilateral tetrads of microspores. The pollen is shed when two-nucleate and is gorged with starch. Degeneration of contents of one or more sporangia is frequent. The ovules are anatropous, crassinucellar and bitegmic. Twin microspore tetrads and twin embryo sacs are common but only one embryo sac reaches maturity. The development of the embryo sac follows the monosporic, Polygonum type. Starch accumulates in the mature embryo sac and remains until the initiation of endosperm. The antipodal cells persist until fertilization and rarely multiply. The seeds are frequently sterile but contain a well-formed outer integument. The healthy seeds have in addition a five- or six-layered inner integument, a nuclear type of endosperm and an embryo. The embryological evidence points to a closer affinity of Bauera Banks ex Andr. to the Cunoniaceae than to the Saxifragaceae.


1962 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 65 ◽  
Author(s):  
GL Davis

Ammobium alatum is a perennial herb whose discoid-homogarnous capitula are surrounded by several rows of involucral bracts with white radiating laminae. Four microsporangia are present in each anther and their development and dehiscence are described. The ovule is anatropous, unitegmic, and tenuinucellate. The archesporial cell is hypodermal in origin and, following considerable increase in size, it functions directly as the megaspore mother cell. Cytokinesis and wall formation are postponed until after Meiosis 11 and a dyad is formed in which each cell is binucleate. The embryo sac is bisporic and its development is a variation of the Allium type. After fertilization, the surviving synergid may increase greatly in size but it does not extend into the micropyle and it collapses when the embryo reaches the seventh cell generation. Embryogeny is of the Asterad type and the sequence of events leading up to maturation of the embryo and of the fruit is described.


1969 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 215 ◽  
Author(s):  
N Prakash

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.


1964 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 157 ◽  
Author(s):  
PS Woodland

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.


1970 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 213 ◽  
Author(s):  
IC Beltran

Ovule development, embryo sac formation, and embryogeny of I. Petraea are described. The ovules are anatropous, unitegmic, and tenuinucellar. Meiosis in the megaspore mother cell is regular and the chromosomes with terminalized chiasmata form ring bivalents at metaphase 1. The Polygonum type embryo sac, Scutellaria type endosperm development, and Solanad embryo formation correspond with development patterns in other members of the Lobeliaceae.


1963 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 152 ◽  
Author(s):  
G Want

In Wahlenbergia bicolor, the anther wall is composed of four layers: epidermis, endothecium, middle layer, and tapetum. Wall formation and microsporogenesis are described, and the pollen grains are shed at the two-celled condition. The ovules are tenuinucellate, with a hypodermal archesporial cell which develops directly as the megaspore mother cell. Megasporogenesis is normal, and a monosporic eight-nucleate embryo sac of the most common Polygonum type develops from the chalazal megaspore. The antipodals degenerate before fertilization. The development of the embryo is of the solanad type. A suspected case of polyembryony was observed. The endosperm is cellular from its inception, and so conforms to the Codonopsis type. A micropylar and a chalazal haustoriurn, both consisting of two uninucleate cells, are formed from the endosperm. Comparative studies were made with a known but as yet undescribed coastal species of Wahlenbergia, and no differences were found.


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