In vitro fertilization as a tool for investigating sexual reproduction of angiosperms

Dynamics of mitochondrial distribution during development and asymmetric division of rice zygotes

Mitochondria change their distribution from nuclear peripheral to uniformly distributed in cytoplasm during zygotic development of rice, and the mitochondria re-distribute around nucleus for even segregation into daughter cells. Mitochondria are highly dynamic organelles that actively move and change their localization along with actin filaments during the cell cycle. Studies of mitochondrial dynamics and distribution in plant cells have mainly been conducted on somatic cells, and our understanding about these aspects during the formation and development of zygotes remains limited. In this study, mitochondrial nucleoids of rice egg cells and zygotes were successfully stained by using N-aryl pyrido cyanine 3 (PC3), and their intracellular localization and distribution were demonstrated. Mitochondria in rice egg cells were small and coccoid in shape and were primarily distributed around the nucleus. Upon gamete fusion, the resulting zygotes showed mitochondrial dispersion and accumulation equivalent to those in rice egg cells until 8 h after fusion (HAF). Around 12 HAF, the mitochondria started to disperse throughout the cytoplasm of the zygotes, and this dispersive distribution pattern continued until the zygotes entered the mitotic phase. At early prophase, the mitochondria redistributed from dispersive to densely accumulated around the nucleus, and during the metaphase and anaphase, the mitochondria were depleted from possible mitotic spindle region. Thereafter, during cell plate formation between daughter nuclei, the mitochondria distributed along the phragmoplast, where the new cell wall was formed. Finally, relatively equivalent amounts of mitochondria were detected in the apical and basal cells which were produced through asymmetric division of the zygotes. Further observation by treating the egg cell with latrunculin B revealed that the accumulation of mitochondria around the nuclear periphery in egg cells and early zygotes depended on the actin meshwork converging toward the egg or zygote nucleus.

In Vitro Fertilization System Using Wheat Gametes by Electric Fusion

In vitro fertilization (IVF) systems using isolated gametes have been used to dissect post-fertilization events in angiosperms, as female plant gametophytes are deeply embedded within the ovaries. In addition, hybrid and polyploid zygotes can be produced by using IVF systems. Complete IVF systems of maize and rice, two out of three major energy-providing crops, have been established in order to acquire detailed knowledge of mechanisms of fertilization and early embryogenesis. Following in the footsteps of previous success, a wheat IVF system was developed to introduce the advantages of this technology to wheat research. Fusion of gametes was performed via a modified electrofusion method, and the zygote formed a cell wall and two nucleoli. The zygotes divided into symmetric two-celled embryos, globular-like embryos and multicellular club-shaped embryos which are mostly consistent with those in the embryos in planta. IVF-produced club-shaped embryos developed into compact embryonic calli and subsequently regenerated into fertile plants. In this chapter, we provide a detailed description of wheat IVF system that might become an important technique for generating new genotypes of wheat and/or new hybrids as well as for investigating fertilization-induced events in wheat.

Development and regeneration of wheat-rice hybrid zygotes produced by in vitro fertilization system

Hybridization plays a decisive role in the evolution and diversification of angiosperms. However, the mechanisms of wide hybridization remain open because pre- and post-fertilization barriers limit the production and development of inter-subfamily/intergeneric zygotes, respectively. We examined hybridization between wheat and rice using an in vitro fertilization (IVF) system to bypass these barriers. Several gamete combinations of allopolyploid wheat-rice hybrid zygotes were successfully produced, and the developmental profiles of hybrid zygotes were analyzed. Hybrid zygotes derived from one rice egg cell and one wheat sperm cell ceased at the multicellular embryo-like structure stage. This developmental barrier was overcome by adding one wheat egg cell to the wheat-rice hybrid zygote. In the reciprocal combination, one wheat egg and one rice sperm cell, the resulting hybrid zygotes failed to divide. However, doubling the dosage of rice sperm cell allowed the hybrid zygotes to develop into plantlets. Rice chromosomes appeared to be progressively eliminated during the early developmental stage of these hybrid embryos, and c. 20% of regenerated plants showed abnormal morphology. These results suggest that hybrid breakdown can be overcome through optimization of gamete combinations, and the present hybrid will provide a new horizon for utilization of inter-subfamily genetic resources.

Gene Expression and Genome Editing Systems by Direct Delivery of Macromolecules Into Rice Egg Cells and Zygotes

Polyethylene glycol calcium (PEG-Ca2+)-mediated transfection allows rapid and efficient examination to analyze diverse cellular functions of genes of interest. In plant cells, macromolecules, such as DNA, RNA and protein, are delivered into protoplasts derived from somatic tissues or calli via PEG-Ca2+ transfection. To broaden and develop the scope of investigations using plant gametes and zygotes, a procedure for direct delivery of macromolecules into these cells has recently been established using PEG-Ca2+ transfection. This PEG-Ca2+-mediated delivery into rice egg cells/zygotes consists of four microtechniques, (i) isolation of gametes, (ii) production of zygotes by electrofusion of gametes, (iii) PEG-Ca2+-mediated delivery of macromolecules into isolated egg cells or produced zygotes, and (iv) culture and subsequent analyses of the transfected egg cells/zygotes. Because the full protocol for microtechniques (i) and (ii) have already been reported in Toda et al., 2016 , microtechniques (iii) and (iv) are mainly described in this protocol.

Plasmogamic Paternal Contributions to Early Zygotic Development in Flowering Plants

Flowering plant zygotes possess complete developmental potency, and the mixture of male and female genetic and cytosolic materials in the zygote is a trigger to initiate embryo development. Plasmogamy, the fusion of the gamete cytoplasms, facilitates the cellular dynamics of the zygote. In the last decade, mutant analyses, live cell imaging-based observations, and direct observations of fertilized egg cells by in vitro fusion of isolated gametes have accelerated our understanding of the post-plasmogamic events in flowering plants including cell wall formation, gamete nuclear migration and fusion, and zygotic cell elongation and asymmetric division. Especially, it has become more evident that paternal parent-of-origin effects, via sperm cytoplasm contents, not only control canonical early zygotic development, but also activate a biparental signaling pathway critical for cell fate determination after the first cell division. Here, we summarize the plasmogamic paternal contributions via the entry of sperm contents during/after fertilization in flowering plants.

Isolation of male and female gametes, zygotes and proembryos of leek (Allium tuberosum Roxb)

The isolation of male and female gametes is an effective method to study the fertilization mechanisms of higher plants. An osmotic shock method was used to rupture pollen grains of Allium tuberosum Roxb and release the pollen contents, including generative cells, which were mass collected. The pollinated styles were cut following 3 h of in vivo growth, and cultured in medium for 6-8 h, during which time pollen tubes grew out of the cut end of the style. After pollen tubes were transferred into a solution containing 6% mannitol, tubes burst and released pairs of sperm cells. Ovules of A. tuberosum were incubated in an enzyme solution for 30 min, and then dissected to remove the integuments. Following transfer to a dissecting solution free of enzymes, each nucellus was cut in the middle, and squeezed gently on the micropylar end, resulting in the liberation of the egg, zygote and proembryo from ovules at selected stages. These cells can be used to explore fertilization and embryonic development using molecular biological methods for each cell type and development stage.

Isolation of the sperm and egg cells in wild rice (Oryza officinalis) as a mechanism for crop improvement

Sperm cells can be isolated from the mature pollen grains of medicinal wild rice (Oryza officinalis) using an osmotic shock method, and the viable egg cells can be isolated by enzymatic digestion and mechanical dissection steps. Favorable alleles for rice breeding have been identified in natural cultivars and wild rice by association analysis of known functional genes with target trait performance. Transferring these genes from wild rice into cultivated rice varieties is one of the important objectives for rice breeders. The isolation of the sperm and egg cells of wild and cultivated rice is a prerequisite for the in vitro hybridization of distantly related cultivated rice and wild rice lines. Here, we provide a technical approach for isolating the sperm and egg cells of wild rice (Oryza officinalis). In this method, sperm cells were isolated from the mature pollen grains of medicinal wild rice (O. officinalis) according to an osmotic shock method. Additionally, viable O. officinalis egg cells were isolated following enzymatic digestion and mechanical dissection steps. Specifically, ovules were digested in an enzymatic solution containing pectinase and cellulase for 30 min, after which the ovule was cut into two halves. Three egg apparatus cells were released by gently applying pressure to the micropylar end. Generally, six or seven egg cells could be isolated from 20 ovules in 60 min. The same method was used to isolate zygotes from flowers at 24 h after pollination. This technology solved the difficulty of isolating sperm and egg cells in O. officinalis and allowed the isolated sperm and egg cells to be combined by in vitro hybridization of distantly related wild and cultivated rice lines.

In Vitro Production of Zygotes by Electrofusion of Rice Gametes

In angiosperms, fertilization and embryogenesis occur in the embryo sac, which is deeply embedded in ovular tissue. In vitro fertilization (IVF) systems using isolated gametes have been utilized to dissect postfertilization events in angiosperms, such as egg activation, zygotic development, and early embryogenesis. In addition, using IVF systems, interspecific zygotes and polyploid zygotes have been artificially produced, and their developmental profiles/mechanisms have been analyzed. Taken together, the IVF system can be considered a powerful technique for investigating the fertilization-induced developmental sequences in zygotes and generating new cultivars with desirable characteristics. Here, we describe the procedures for the isolation of rice gametes, electrofusion of gametes, and the culture of the produced zygotes and embryo.

Wheat egg in vitro fusion with wheat and green bristlegrass sperm

SummaryIsolated gametes can be used to investigate fertilization mechanisms, and probe distant hybridization between different species. Pollen grains of wheat and Setaria viridis are tricellular, containing sperm cells at anthesis. Sperm from these plants were isolated by breaking open pollen grains in a osmotic solution. Wheat ovules were digested in an enzyme solution for 20 min, and then transferred to an isolation solution without enzymes to separate egg cells from ovules. The fusion of wheat egg cells with wheat and S. viridis sperm was conducted using an electro-fusion apparatus. Under suitable osmotic pressure (10% mannitol), calcium concentration of 0.001% (CaCl2·2H2O), and a 30-35 V alternating electric field for 15 s, egg cells and sperm adhered to each other and became arranged in a line. Electroporation of the plasma membrane of egg cells and sperm using a 300-500 V direct-current electric field (45 µs amplitude pulse) caused them to fuse.

Establishment of an In Vitro Fertilization System in Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

In vitro fertilization (IVF) systems using isolated gametes have been utilized to dissect post-fertilization events in angiosperms, since the female gametophytes of plants are deeply embedded within ovaries. In addition, IVF systems have been used to produce hybrid and polyploid zygotes. Complete IVF systems have been established in maize and rice, two of three major crop species providing the majority of human energy intake. Among those crop species, gametes of wheat have not been used to establish a complete IVF system successfully. In this study, a wheat IVF system was developed to introduce the advantages of this technology to wheat research. Fusion of gametes was performed via a modified electrofusion method, and the fusion product, a zygote, formed a cell wall and two nucleoli. The first division of zygotes was observed 19-27 h after fusion, and the resulting two-celled embryo developed into 10-20-celled globular-like embryos and multicellular club-shaped embryos by 3 and 7-10 d after fusion, respectively. Such zygotic division profiles were mostly consistent with those in the embryo sac, suggesting that the division profile of IVF-produced early embryos reflects that of early embryos in planta. Although the IVF-produced club-shaped embryos did not develop into differentiated embryos but into compact embryonic calli, fertile plants could be regenerated from the embryonic calli, and the seeds harvested from those plants grew normally into seedlings. The IVF system described here might become an important technique for generating new genotypes of wheat and/or new hybrids as well as for investigating fertilization-induced events in wheat.

Development of gene expression system in egg cells and zygotes isolated from rice and maize

Polyethylene glycol calcium (PEG-Ca2+) transfection-mediated analysis allows rapid and efficient examination of gene function. To investigate the diverse cellular functions of genes of interest in plant cells, macromolecules, such as DNA, RNA, and proteins, are delivered into protoplasts prepared from somatic tissues or calli using a PEG-Ca2+ transfection procedure. To take advantage of this macromolecule delivery system in the reproductive and developmental biology of angiosperms, this study established a PEG-Ca2+ transfection system with isolated egg cells and zygotes. The conditions for PEG and plasmid DNA concentrations for transfection of rice egg cells were first addressed, and ~30% of PEG-Ca2+-transfected egg cells showed exogenous and transient expressions of fluorescent proteins from plasmid DNA delivered into the cells. Interestingly, a dual expression of two different fluorescent proteins in the same egg cell using two kinds of plasmid DNAs was also observed. For PEG-Ca2+ transfection with maize zygotes, ~80% of zygotes showed expression of GFP proteins from plasmid DNA. Importantly, PEG-transfected zygotes developed normally into cell masses and mature plants. These results suggest that the present PEG-Ca2+-mediated transient expression system provides a novel and effective platform for expressing and analyzing genes of interest in egg cells and zygotes. Moreover, combined with the CRISPR/Cas9 approach, the present transient expression system in zygotes will become a powerful and alternative tool for the preparation of gene-edited plants.

Gene expression profiles in rice gametes and zygotes: identification of gamete-enriched genes and up- or down-regulated genes in zygotes after fertilization

In angiosperms, fertilization and subsequent zygotic development occur in embryo sacs deeply embedded in the ovaries; therefore, these processes are poorly elucidated. In this study, microarray-based transcriptome analyses were conducted on rice sperm cells, egg cells, and zygotes isolated from flowers to identify candidate genes involved in gametic and/or early zygotic development. Cell type-specific transcriptomes were obtained, and up- or down-regulated genes in zygotes after fertilization were identified, in addition to genes enriched in male and female gametes. A total of 325 putatively up-regulated and 94 putatively down-regulated genes in zygotes were obtained. Interestingly, several genes encoding homeobox proteins or transcription factors were identified as highly up-regulated genes after fertilization, and the gene ontology for up-regulated genes was highly enriched in functions related to chromatin/DNA organization and assembly. Because a gene encoding methyltransferase 1 was identified as a highly up-regulated gene in zygotes after fertilization, the effect of an inhibitor of this enzyme on zygote development was monitored. The inhibitor appeared partially to affect polarity or division asymmetry in rice zygotes, but it did not block normal embryo generation.

The origin of the plant body axis

During embryogenesis, the basic body plan of an organism develops from a unicellular zygote. In most flowering plants, the polar zygote divides asymmetrically, making visible the apical-basal axis in the early embryo. The molecular mechanisms governing how the zygote polarizes and how this polarity is linked to embryo axis formation have been obscure, mainly owing to the difficulties to access the zygote that is deeply embedded in the maternal tissue. In this review, we summarize recent findings identifying key regulators in Arabidopsis and developing novel approaches in various plant species, which altogether set the stage for unraveling embryo axis formation.

In vitro fertilization with rice gametes: production of zygotes and zygote and embryo culture

In vitro fertilization (IVF) systems using isolated male and female gametes have been utilized to dissect fertilization-induced events in angiosperms, such as egg activation, zygote development, and early embryogenesis, since the female gametophytes of plants are deeply embedded within ovaries. A rice IVF system was established to take advantage of the abundant resources stemming from rice research for investigations into the mechanisms of fertilization and early embryogenesis. Fusion of gametes can be performed using electrofusion and the fusion product, a zygote, forms a cell wall and an additional nucleolus. The zygote divides into an asymmetric two-celled embryo and develops into an early globular embryo, as in planta. The embryo further develops into irregularly shaped cell masses and fertile plants can be regenerated from the cell masses. This rice IVF system is a powerful tool for studying the molecular mechanisms involved in the early embryogenesis of angiosperms and for making new cultivars.

Let's get physical: gamete interaction in flowering plants

Fertilization comprises a series of precisely orchestrated steps that culminate in the fusion of male and female gametes. The most intimate steps during fertilization encompass gamete recognition, adhesion and fusion. In animals, some binding-effector proteins and enzymes have been identified that act on the cell surfaces of the gametes to regulate gamete compatibility and fertilization success. In contrast, exploring plant gamete interaction during double fertilization, a characteristic trait of flowering plants, has been hampered for a long time because of the protected location of the female gametes and technical limitations. Over the last couple of years, however, the use of advanced methodologies, new imaging tools and new mutants has provided deeper insights into double fertilization, at both the cellular and the molecular level, especially for the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana. Most likely, one consequence of inventing double fertilization may be the co-evolution of special molecular mechanisms to govern each successful sperm delivery and efficient gamete recognition and fusion. In vivo imaging of double fertilization and the recent discovery of numerous female-gametophyte-specific expressed genes encoding small secreted proteins, some of whom were found to be essential for the fertilization process, support this hypothesis. Nevertheless, recent findings indicate that at least the membrane-merger step in plant gamete interaction may rely on an ancient and widely used gamete fusion system.

Crossability barriers in the interspecific hybridization between Oryza sativa and O. meyeriana

Oryza meyeriana Baill (GG genome) is a precious germplasm in the tertiary gene pool of cultivated rice (AA genome), and possesses important traits such as resistance and tolerance to biotic and abiotic stress. However, interspecific crossability barrier, a critical bottleneck restricting genes transfer from O. meyeriana to cultivars has led to no hybrids through conventional reproduction. Therefore, the reasons underlying incrossability were investigated in the present report. The results showed that: (i) at 3-7 d after pollination (DAP), many hybrid embryos degenerated at the earlier globular-shaped stage, and could not develop into the later pear-shaped stage. Meanwhile, free endosperm nuclei started to degenerate at 1 DAP, and cellular endosperm could not form at 3 DAP, leading to nutrition starvation for young embryo development; (ii) at 11-13 DAP, almost all hybrid ovaries aborted. Even though 72.22% of hybrid young embryos were produced in the interspecific hybridization between O. sativa and O. meyeriana, young embryos were not able to further develop into hybrid plantlets via culturing in vitro. The main reason for the incrossability was hybrid embryo inviability, presenting as embryo development stagnation and degeneration since 3 DAP. Some possible approaches to overcome the crossability barriers in the interspecific hybridization between O. sativa and O. meyeriana are discussed.

Histological comparison between wheat embryos developing in vitro from isolated zygotes and those developing in vivo

There is currently great interest shown in understanding the process of embryogenesis and, due to the relative inaccessibility of these structures in planta, extended studies are carried out in various in vitro systems. The culture of isolated zygotes in particular provides an excellent platform to study the process of in planta embryogenesis. However, very few comparisons have been made between zygotic embryos grown entirely in cultures and those grown in vivo. The present study analyses the differences and similarities between the in vitro and in vivo development of wheat zygotic embryos at the level of morphology and histology. The study was possible thanks to an efficient culture system and an appropriate method of preparing isolated wheat zygotes for microscopy. The in vitro embryos were fixed, embedded and sectioned in the two-celled, globular, club-shaped and fully differentiated stages. Embryos developing in vitro closely followed the morphology of their in planta counterparts and their cell types and tissues were also similar, demonstrating the applicability of the present culture system for studying the process of zygotic embryogenesis. However, some important differences were also detected in the case of in vitro development: the disturbance of or lack of initial polarity led to changes in the division symmetry of the zygotes and subsequently to the formation of uniform cells in the globular structures. Presumably, differences between the in vitro and in planta environments resulted in a lower level of differentiation and maturation in in vitro embryos and in abundant starch and protein accumulation in the scutellum.

Isolation of egg cells and zygotes of Torenia fournieri L. and determination of their surface charge

Egg cells of Torenia fournieri were isolated from embryo sacs 1 day after anthesis using enzymatic digestion or mechanical dissection. About 5% of the egg cells and zygotes (2-3 from 50 ovules) could be mechanically dissected within 2 h. When 0.1% cellulase and 0.1% pectinase were added to the mannitol isolation solution, about 18% of the egg cells (8-10 from 50 ovules) could be isolated within 2 h. The egg cells isolated by mechanical dissection could be used for in vitro fertilization studies without any of the potentially deleterious effects of the enzymes on the plasma membrane of egg cell. The egg cells isolated using enzymatic digestion could be used in the study of the molecular biology of female gamete because more egg cells could be isolated with this technique. Using enzymatic digestion, over 10 zygotes from 50 ovules (over 20%) were isolated from the pollinated ovules. Coupled with our successful isolation of mature sperm cells, the isolation of egg cells of T. fournieri will make in vitro fertilization possible in a dicotyledon plant.

Establishment of an in vitro fertilization system in rice (Oryza sativa L.)

In vitro fertilization (IVF) systems using isolated male and female gametes have been utilized to dissect fertilization-induced events in angiosperms, such as egg activation, zygote development and early embryogenesis, as the female gametophytes of plants are deeply embedded within ovaries. In this study, a rice IVF system was established to take advantage of the abundant resources stemming from rice research for investigations into the mechanisms of fertilization and early embryogenesis. Fusion of gametes was performed using a modified electrofusion method, and the fusion product, a zygote, formed cell wall and an additional nucleolus. The zygote divided into a two-celled embryo 15-24 h after fusion, and developed into a globular-like embryo consisting of an average of 15-16 cells by 48 h after fusion. Comparison of the developmental processes of zygotes produced by IVF with those of zygotes generated in planta suggested that zygotes produced by IVF develop and grow into early globular stage embryos in a highly similar manner to those in planta. Although the IVF-produced globular embryos did not develop into late globular-stage or differentiated embryos, but into irregularly shaped cell masses, fertile plants were regenerated from the cell masses and the seeds harvested from these plants germinated normally. The rice IVF system reported here will be a powerful tool for studying the molecular mechanisms involved in the early embryogenesis of angiosperms and for making new cultivars.