Cytological basis for a tetraspory in Cupressus sempervirens L. megagametogenesis and its implications in genetic studies

The processes of megasporogenesis and early megagametogenesis were cytologically investigated in Cupressus sempervirens L. in order to elucidate, at the cellular level, the origin of the megagametophyte. After pollination, sporogenous tissue developed in the chalazal region of the nucellus, but only...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Theoretical and applied genetics 1998-05, Vol.96 (6/7), p.776-779
Main Authors: El Maataoui, M, Pichot, C, Alzubi, H, Grimaud, N
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Biological and medical sciences
cell biology
Classical genetics, quantitative genetics, hybrids
Cupressus sempervirens
Cypress
Cytogenetics
embryo sac
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
gametogenesis
Gametophyte
Genetic aspects
Genetics of eukaryotes. Biological and molecular evolution
megaspores
megasporogenesis
meiosis
ovules
Physiological aspects
plant anatomy
Plant genetics
Pteridophyta, spermatophyta
spores
Vegetals
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Summary:The processes of megasporogenesis and early megagametogenesis were cytologically investigated in Cupressus sempervirens L. in order to elucidate, at the cellular level, the origin of the megagametophyte. After pollination, sporogenous tissue developed in the chalazal region of the nucellus, but only one megaspore mother cell differentiated and divided meiotically without cell-wall formation. This led to the development of a cell with four nuclei which directly functioned as a megaspore. The C. sempervirens megagametophyte is thus tetrasporic, in contrast to the majority of conifers where the megagametophyte is monosporic. The consequences of this observation are discussed from a genetics point of view.
ISSN:0040-5752
1432-2242
DOI:10.1007/s001220050801