Changes in Surface Structure during Direct Somatic Embryogenesis in Rice Scutellum Observed by Scanning Electron Microscopy

Abstract

Direct somatic embryogenesis in rice scutella was studied by scanning electron microscopy paying attention to the morphological change of surface structure. Somatic embryos were formed when the scutella of immature embryos of cv. Nipponbare were cultured on MS media containing 2 mg L^?1 2,4-D. Embryos were then transferred to the media containing 1 mg L^?1 2,4-D and germinated on hormone-free media. The developmental stages of typical monocotyledonous somatic embryo were classified into proembryo, globular, scutellar and coleoptilar stages by referring to the terminology used for zygotic embryos. Each stage had a characteristic surface structure. The surface of proembryo was smooth. Fibrillar material was observed during the transition from proembryo to globular stage. Fibrillar material was then gradually replaced by a mesh-like structure at the globular stage. With subsequent development of globular embryo, the apical scutellum region became flattened and the ridge of mesh-like structure became lower. Development of scutellum followed by the emergence of coleoptile from the scutellar notch was observed at the scutellar stage. The coleoptile surface was covered with elongating cells. The coleoptilar stage was characterized by the growth of coleoptile and the development of root. However, aberrant somatic embryos which had leafy scutellum and multiple shoot meristem, were also observed.     

龙眼体胚相关未知蛋白基因DlUP-4的克隆与表达分析

以龙眼（Dimocarpus longan Lour.）胚性培养物为材料,采用简并引物结合RACE方法分离得到龙眼体胚相关未知蛋白基因DlUP-4的cDNA全长序列,全长为1 061 bp,由735个核苷酸组成的开放阅读框,编码244个氨基酸（GenBank登录号为GQ443758）。采用生物信息学方法分析,发现该基因推导的蛋白分子量为28 576 ku,pI为9.96;该蛋白为60S Ribosomal protein L30蛋白质家族成员中的L7蛋白,是一个具有核糖体蛋白L30信号位点和1个典型的Ribosomal L30 like superfamily组件,无典型信号肽结构,无跨膜螺旋的亲水性蛋白;α螺旋是该蛋白最大量的结构元件,散布于整个蛋白质中。实时荧光定量PCR分析结果显示,DlUP-4基因在龙眼体胚发生过程中均有表达,其表达水平的趋势呈“M”形,其中2个高峰出现在不完全胚性紧实结构阶段和鱼雷形胚阶段,而球形胚阶段最低。该研究结果对DlUP-4基因在龙眼体胚发生过程中的作用有了一个初步的认识,其在龙眼体胚发生过程中,在调控体胚发生的启动、细胞的极化、细胞的增殖等方面可能有重要的功能,这为进一步研究该基因在龙眼体胚发生过程中的功能奠定了基础。