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Delbón NE, Aliscioni NL, Lorenzati M, García S, Singer RB, Gurvich DE. Looking for non-hermaphrodite cacti: multidisciplinary studies in Gymnocalycium bruchii endemic to central Argentina. PLANT REPRODUCTION 2024; 37:201-214. [PMID: 36941510 DOI: 10.1007/s00497-023-00461-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2022] [Accepted: 03/07/2023] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
KEY MESSAGE Through a multidisciplinary study we found that Gymnocalycium bruchii, an endemic cactus from central Argentina, acts as a dioecious species, which is the first record in this genus. Cactaceae species are typically hermaphroditic; however, about 2% have other different reproductive systems. These non-hermaphroditic species may develop sexual dimorphism in flowers or other reproductive, vegetative or ecological traits, besides a specific breeding system and floral ontogeny. Therefore, multidisciplinary research is necessary to fully understand reproduction in those species. For this purpose, we studied Gymnocalicium bruchii, a globose cactus endemic to central Argentina that is presumably dioecious or gynodioecious. We made observations in two natural and two cultivated populations. We made morphological observations of plants and flowers, and performed quantitative analyses to determine the sex ratio, size of plants and flowers, flower production, fruiting, among other variables. We performed hand-pollination, self-fertilization and free-pollination tests to determine the breeding system. Finally, we studied the anatomy and ontogeny of the reproductive organs using permanent histological slides of flower morphs at different stages. Our results confirm that Gymnocalicium bruchii is a dioecious species. Female flowers have atrophied anthers and a functional gynoecium that produces fruits and seeds. Male flowers are bigger and have a functional androecium but a sterile gynoecium. In the cultivated population, the sex ratio was 1/1, whereas the number of male individuals was higher in both natural populations. Pollination tests corroborated dioecy. Ontogenetic studies revealed that in female flowers the anthers collapse before microspore maturation, while in male flowers the gynoecium shows normal development of the ovary, style, stigma, and ovules; however, the latter are never fertilized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalia E Delbón
- Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales, Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal (UNC-CONICET), Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Av. Vélez Sarsfield 299, CC495, Córdoba, Argentina.
| | - Nayla L Aliscioni
- Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales, Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal (UNC-CONICET), Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Av. Vélez Sarsfield 299, CC495, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Marina Lorenzati
- Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales, Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal (UNC-CONICET), Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Av. Vélez Sarsfield 299, CC495, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Sergio García
- Jardín Botánico Córdoba, Francisco Yunyent, 5491, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Rodrigo B Singer
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Botânica, Departamento de Botânica, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Av. Bento Gonçalves 9500, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, 91501-970, Brazil
| | - Diego E Gurvich
- Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales, Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal (UNC-CONICET), Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Av. Vélez Sarsfield 299, CC495, Córdoba, Argentina.
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Martínez-Ramos LM, Vázquez-Santana S, García-Franco J, Mandujano MC. Is self-incompatibility a reproductive barrier for hybridization in a sympatric species? AMERICAN JOURNAL OF BOTANY 2024; 111:e16309. [PMID: 38584339 DOI: 10.1002/ajb2.16309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2023] [Revised: 01/29/2024] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 04/09/2024]
Abstract
PREMISE Barriers at different reproductive stages contribute to reproductive isolation. Self-incompatibility (SI) systems that prevent self-pollination could also act to control interspecific pollination and contribute to reproductive isolation, preventing hybridization. Here we evaluated whether SI contributes to reproductive isolation among four co-occurring Opuntia species that flower at similar times and may hybridize with each other. METHODS We assessed whether Opuntia cantabrigiensis, O. robusta, O. streptacantha, and O. tomentosa, were self-compatible and formed hybrid seeds in five manipulation treatments to achieve self-pollination, intraspecific cross-pollination, open pollination (control), interspecific crosses or apomixis, then recorded flowering phenology and synchrony. RESULTS All species flowered in the spring with a degree of synchrony, so that two pairs of species were predisposed to interspecific pollination (O. cantabrigiensis with O. robusta, O. streptacantha with O. tomentosa). All species had distinct reproductive systems: Opuntia cantabrigiensis is self-incompatible and did not produce hybrid seeds as an interspecific pollen recipient; O. robusta is a dioecious species, which formed a low proportion of hybrid seeds; O. streptacantha and O. tomentosa are self-compatible and produced hybrid seeds. CONCLUSIONS Opuntia cantabrigiensis had a strong pollen-pistil barrier, likely due to its self-incompatibility. Opuntia robusta, the dioecious species, is an obligate outcrosser and probably partially lost its ability to prevent interspecific pollen germination. Given that the self-compatible species can set hybrid seeds, we conclude that pollen-pistil interaction and high flowering synchrony represent weak barriers; whether reproductive isolation occurs later in their life cycle (e.g., germination or seedling survival) needs to be determined.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linda M Martínez-Ramos
- Instituto de Ecología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Ciudad de México, México
- Posgrado en Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Unidad de Posgrado, Edificio A, 1° Piso, Circuito de Posgrados, Ciudad Universitaria, Ciudad de México, México
| | - Sonia Vázquez-Santana
- Laboratorio de Desarrollo en Plantas, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Ciudad de México, México
| | - José García-Franco
- Instituto de Ecología A. C. Red de Ecología Funcional, Carretera antigua a Coatepec 351, El Haya, Xalapa, Veracruz, México
| | - María C Mandujano
- Instituto de Ecología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Ciudad de México, México
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Wu W, Jernstedt J, Mesgaran MB. Comparative floral development in male and female plants of Palmer amaranth (Amaranthus palmeri). AMERICAN JOURNAL OF BOTANY 2023; 110:e16212. [PMID: 37459554 DOI: 10.1002/ajb2.16212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2023] [Revised: 05/25/2023] [Accepted: 05/25/2023] [Indexed: 08/12/2023]
Abstract
PREMISE Characterizing the developmental processes in the transition from hermaphroditism to unisexuality is crucial for understanding floral evolution. Amaranthus palmeri, one of the most devastating weeds in the United States, is an emerging model system for studying a dioecious breeding system and understanding the biological traits of this invasive weed. The objectives of this study were to characterize phases of flower development in A. palmeri and compare organogenesis of flower development in female and male plants. METHODS Flower buds from male and female plants were dissected for light microscopy. Segments of male and female inflorescences at different stages of development were cut longitudinally and visualized using scanning electron microscopy. RESULTS Pistillate flowers have two to three styles, one ovary with one ovule, and five obtuse tepals. Staminate flowers have five stamens with five acute tepals. Floral development was classified into 10 stages. The distinction between the two flower types became apparent at stage four by the formation of stamen primordia in staminate flowers, which developed female and male reproductive organs initially, as contrasted to pistillate flowers, which produced carpel primordia only. In staminate flowers, the putative carpel primordia changed little in size and remained undeveloped. CONCLUSIONS Timing of inappropriate organ termination varies across the two sexes in A. palmeri. Our study suggests that the evolution of A. palmeri from a cosexual ancestral state to complete dioecy is still in progress since males exhibited transient hermaphroditism and females produced strictly pistillate flowers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenzhuo Wu
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of California, Davis, 95616, CA, USA
| | - Judy Jernstedt
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of California, Davis, 95616, CA, USA
| | - Mohsen B Mesgaran
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of California, Davis, 95616, CA, USA
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Xie F, Vahldick H, Lin Z, Nowack M. Killing me softly - Programmed cell death in plant reproduction from sporogenesis to fertilization. CURRENT OPINION IN PLANT BIOLOGY 2022; 69:102271. [PMID: 35963096 PMCID: PMC7613566 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbi.2022.102271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2022] [Revised: 06/11/2022] [Accepted: 07/04/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Regulated or programmed cell death (RCD or PCD) is a fundamental biological principle integral to a considerable variety of functions in multicellular organisms. In plants, different PCD processes are part of biotic and abiotic stress responses, but also occur as an essential aspect of unperturbed plant development. PCD is particularly abundant during plant reproduction, eliminating unwanted or no longer needed cells, tissues, or organs in a precisely controlled manner. Failure in reproductive PCD can have detrimental consequences for plant reproduction. Here we shed a light on the latest research into PCD mechanisms in plant reproduction from sex determination over sporogenesis to pollination and fertilization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fei Xie
- Ghent University, Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Technologiepark 71, 9052 Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, Technologiepark 71, 9052 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Hannah Vahldick
- Ghent University, Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Technologiepark 71, 9052 Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, Technologiepark 71, 9052 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Zongcheng Lin
- Key Laboratory of Horticultural Plant Biology (Ministry of Education), Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
- Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Moritz Nowack
- Ghent University, Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Technologiepark 71, 9052 Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, Technologiepark 71, 9052 Ghent, Belgium
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Ramadoss N, Orduño-Baez A, Portillo C, Steele S, Rebman J, Flores-Rentería L. Unraveling the development behind unisexual flowers in Cylindropuntia wolfii (Cactaceae). BMC PLANT BIOLOGY 2022; 22:94. [PMID: 35236303 PMCID: PMC8889693 DOI: 10.1186/s12870-022-03431-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2021] [Accepted: 01/07/2022] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In certain unisexual flowers, non-functional sexual organs remain vestigial and unisexuality can be overlooked leading to the ambiguous description of the sexual systems. Therefore, to accurately describe the sexual system, detailed morphological and developmental analyses along with experimental crosses must be performed. Cylindropuntia wolfii is a rare cactus endemic to the Sonoran Desert in southern California and northern Baja California that was described as gynodioecious by morphological analysis. The aims of our project include accurately identifying the sexual system of C. wolfii using histological and functional studies and characterizing the developmental mechanisms that underlie its floral development. METHODS Histological analyses were carried out on different stages of C. wolfii flowers and controlled crosses were performed in the field. RESULT Our results identified C. wolfii to be functionally dioecious. The ovule and anther development differed between staminate and pistillate flowers. In vivo pollen germination tests showed that the pollen of staminate and pistillate flowers were viable and the stigma and style of both staminate and pistillate flowers were receptive. This suggests that there are no genetic or developmental barriers in the earlier stages of pollen recognition and pollen germination. CONCLUSIONS Despite being functionally dioecious, we observed that functionally pistillate individuals produced fruits with a large number of aborted seeds. This implies that not only does this species have low reproductive success, but its small population sizes may lead to low genetic diversity.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Amy Orduño-Baez
- Department of Biology, San Diego State University, San Diego, USA
- University of Santa Cruz, San Diego, USA
| | - Carlos Portillo
- Department of Biology, San Diego State University, San Diego, USA
| | - Scarlet Steele
- Department of Biology, San Diego State University, San Diego, USA
| | - Jon Rebman
- Department of Botany, San Diego Natural History Museum, San Diego, USA
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Åstrand J, Knight C, Robson J, Talle B, Wilson ZA. Evolution and diversity of the angiosperm anther: trends in function and development. PLANT REPRODUCTION 2021; 34:307-319. [PMID: 34173886 PMCID: PMC8566645 DOI: 10.1007/s00497-021-00416-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2021] [Accepted: 05/28/2021] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Anther development and dehiscence is considered from an evolutionary perspective to identify drivers for differentiation, functional conservation and to identify key questions for future male reproduction research. Development of viable pollen and its timely release from the anther are essential for fertilisation of angiosperm flowers. The formation and subsequent dehiscence of the anther are under tight regulatory control, and these processes are remarkably conserved throughout the diverse families of the angiosperm clade. Anther development is a complex process, which requires timely formation and communication between the multiple somatic anther cell layers (the epidermis, endothecium, middle layer and tapetum) and the developing pollen. These layers go through regulated development and selective degeneration to facilitate the formation and ultimate release of the pollen grains. Insight into the evolution and divergence of anther development and dehiscence, especially between monocots and dicots, is driving greater understanding of the male reproductive process and increased, resilient crop yields. This review focuses on anther structure from an evolutionary perspective by highlighting their diversity across plant species. We summarise new findings that illustrate the complexities of anther development and evaluate how they challenge established models of anther form and function, and how they may help to deliver future sustainable crop yields.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johanna Åstrand
- School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Loughborough, Leicestershire LE12 5RD UK
| | - Christopher Knight
- School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Loughborough, Leicestershire LE12 5RD UK
| | - Jordan Robson
- School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Loughborough, Leicestershire LE12 5RD UK
| | - Behzad Talle
- School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Loughborough, Leicestershire LE12 5RD UK
| | - Zoe A. Wilson
- School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Loughborough, Leicestershire LE12 5RD UK
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Rosas-Reinhold I, Piñeyro-Nelson A, Rosas U, Arias S. Blurring the Boundaries between a Branch and a Flower: Potential Developmental Venues in CACTACEAE. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2021; 10:1134. [PMID: 34204904 PMCID: PMC8228900 DOI: 10.3390/plants10061134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2021] [Revised: 05/28/2021] [Accepted: 06/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Flowers are defined as short shoots that carry reproductive organs. In Cactaceae, this term acquires another meaning, since the flower is interpreted as a branch with a perianth at the tip, with all reproductive organs embedded within the branch, thus giving way to a structure that has been called a "flower shoot". These organs have long attracted the attention of botanists and cactologists; however, the understanding of the morphogenetic processes during the development of these structures is far from clear. In this review, we present and discuss some classic flower concepts used to define floral structures in Cactaceae in the context of current advances in flower developmental genetics and evolution. Finally, we propose several hypotheses to explain the origin of these floral shoot structures in cacti, and we suggest future research approaches and methods that could be used to fill the gaps in our knowledge regarding the ontogenetic origin of the "flower" in the cactus family.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isaura Rosas-Reinhold
- Instituto de Biología, Jardín Botánico, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México C.P.04510, Mexico; (I.R.-R.); (U.R.)
- Posgrado en Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto de Biología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, A. P. 70-153, Ciudad de México C.P.04510, Mexico
| | - Alma Piñeyro-Nelson
- Departamento de Producción Agrícola y Animal, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana-Xochimilco, Ciudad de México C.P.04510, Mexico;
- Centro de Ciencias de la Complejidad (C3), Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México C.P.04960, Mexico
| | - Ulises Rosas
- Instituto de Biología, Jardín Botánico, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México C.P.04510, Mexico; (I.R.-R.); (U.R.)
| | - Salvador Arias
- Instituto de Biología, Jardín Botánico, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México C.P.04510, Mexico; (I.R.-R.); (U.R.)
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Wang F, Yuan Z, Zhao Z, Li C, Zhang X, Liang H, Liu Y, Xu Q, Liu H. Tasselseed5 encodes a cytochrome C oxidase that functions in sex determination by affecting jasmonate catabolism in maize. JOURNAL OF INTEGRATIVE PLANT BIOLOGY 2020; 62:247-255. [PMID: 31087765 DOI: 10.1111/jipb.12826] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2019] [Accepted: 05/10/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Maize (Zea mays L.) is a monoecious grass plant in which mature male and female florets form the tassel and ear, respectively. Maize is often used as a model plant to study flower development. Several maize tassel seed mutants, such as the recessive mutants tasselseed1 (ts1) and tasselseed2 (ts2), exhibit a reversal in sex determination, which leads to the generation of seeds in tassels. The phenotype of the dominant mutant, Tasselseed5 (Ts5), is similar to that of ts2. Here, we positionally cloned the underlying gene of Ts5 and characterized its function. We show that the GRMZM2G177668 gene is overexpressed in Ts5. This gene encodes a cytochrome C oxidase, which catalyzes the transformation of jasmonoyl-L-isoleucine (JA-Ile) to 12OH-JA-Ile during jasmonic acid catabolism. Consistent with this finding, no JA-Ile peak was detected in Ts5 tassels during the sex determination period, unlike in the wild type. Transgenic maize plants overexpressing GRMZM2G177668 exhibited a tassel-seed phenotype similar to that of Ts5. These results indicate that the JA-Ile peak in tassels is critical for sex determination and that the Ts5 mutant phenotype results from the disruption of this peak in tassels during sex determination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fei Wang
- National Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Genetics, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Zhenjiang Yuan
- National Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Genetics, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200032, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Key Laboratory of Plant Stress Biology, School of Life Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng, 475004, China
| | - Zhiwei Zhao
- National Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Genetics, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200032, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Caixia Li
- College of Agronomy, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, 271018, China
| | - Xin Zhang
- National Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Genetics, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Huafeng Liang
- National Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Genetics, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200032, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Yawen Liu
- National Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Genetics, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Qian Xu
- College of Agronomy, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, 271018, China
| | - Hongtao Liu
- National Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Genetics, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200032, China
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