Molecular characterization of an S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase gene from floral organ differentiating axillary bud in calamondin (× Citrofortunella mitis)

Summary

Calamondin (× Citrofortunella mitis J. Ingram & H. E. Moore) is known for its ability to develop floral organs to flower in the adult phase during the four seasons. To provide information on molecular events during floral differentiation from axillary buds, we constructed a cDNA library from floral differentiating axillary buds of adult phase calamondin. Ninety-six cDNA clones were randomly selected from this library and sequenced. Ninety-six nonredundant ESTs were identified. Two clones encoded S-adenosylmethione decarboxylase, a key enzymes in polyamine biosynthesis. CmSAMDC 1 (Citrofortunella mitis s-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase 1) contained an 1083 bp ORF that encoded a putative SAMDC precursor of 361 amino acids. Northern blot analysis revealed that CmSAMDC 1 was expressed in axillary buds prior to floral differentiation and in axillary buds immediately after floral differentiation, in immature flower (5 mm), in fully developed flowers (120 mm long), in floral parts (petals, pistils, and stamens) of trees in the adult phase of development, but not in leaves or axillary buds of juvenile phase nucellar seedlings or leaf tissue from trees in adult phase of development. In situ hybridization revealed expression of the CmSAMDC 1 gene in the floral apex of axillary buds after differentiation, and in the phloem of axillary buds and petioles. These results suggest that SAMDC could play a role in actively differentiating and developing reproductive and vegetative organs.     

紫花地丁开放花与闭锁花的发育及可溶性糖与淀粉含量的研究

紫花地丁(Viola philippica)为典型的两型花自花受精植物,具有开放花和闭锁花混合繁育系统。通过对开放花和闭锁花花芽形态发育的比较发现:开放花与闭锁花在花芽发育早期形态相似,4轮花器官原基均正常发生。出现明显差异的时期为4轮花器官原基形成以后,小孢子发育时期为产孢细胞阶段,开放花的5个花瓣与5枚雄蕊继续发育,每个雄蕊有4个花药室;而闭锁花只有2枚雄蕊继续发育,每个雄蕊有2个花药室,其余雄蕊与所有的花瓣依然为器官原基状态,不再发育。通过对花芽与叶片可溶性糖与淀粉含量的检测发现,花器官原基形成之后,开放花与闭锁花形态出现明显差异阶段开始,随着花芽的发育,可溶性糖与淀粉含量均呈上升趋势,且开放花花芽中的含量均明显高于对应发育阶段闭锁花花芽;而开放花植株的叶片可溶性糖与淀粉含量均低于闭锁花植株叶片,说明开放花所需要的能量高于闭锁花,推测可溶性糖与淀粉含量的差异与两型花发育有一定的关系。     

不完全甜柿‘禅寺丸’花性别分化形态学关键时期的研究

以雌雄同株的‘禅寺丸’柿为材料,利用扫描电镜和石蜡切片法观察雌花和雄花芽发育进程,探究柿花性别分化的形态学关键时期。结果表明,‘禅寺丸’雌、雄花芽发育进程基本同步,均从6月持续到次年5月,可划分为11个阶段;花性别分化有两个形态学关键时期:一是6月中旬(阶段2)萼片原基发生期,此时雌花单生、雄花3朵合生的特点开始显现;二是次年4月中旬(阶段8)大小孢子发生期,此时雌花的雄蕊原基分化出花丝后停止发育,雄花的雌蕊原基在花柱和柱头结构产生后开始败育,从而产生单性花。     

Inhibition of flowering of Mexican- and Guatemalan-type avocados under tropical conditions

Avocado trees of a range of cultivars growing in Darwin, northern Australia (average yearly maximum 33°C, minimum 23°C), were observed for flower and shoot development. Terminal buds of the cultivars ‘Fuerte’, ‘Rincon’ and ‘Edranol’ sampled in July were not floral. Buds which did not burst were sampled in September and they contained developing flowers with perianth primordia. Vegetative extension growth resulted from laterals proximal to the inhibited terminal buds.Avocado trees of the cultivars ‘Fuerte’ and ‘Hass’ which had initiated floral buds were transferred to controlled environment chambers with 33°C day, 23°C night ($\text{33}\text{23}$) or 25°C day, 15°C night ($\text{25}\text{15}$) with a 12-h photoperiod and photon flux density of 400 μmol m^?2 s^?1 (400–700 nm). At $\text{33}\text{23}$ the trees had fewer flowers and a shorter flowering period than at $\text{25}\text{15}$. Inhibited floral buds and lateral vegetative extension resulted at $\text{33}\text{23}$, as observed in northern Australia. The unburst buds had developing flowers with perianth and stamen primordia.The controlled environment experiments showed that the abnormal flushing behaviour of Mexican- and Guatemalan-type avocados growing in northern Australia was due to high temperature. Floral development was inhibited at the stage of stamen differentiation.     

First reported case of spontaneous hermaphrodism in female date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.), cv ‘Alligue’

The date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) is dioecious with male flowers deficient in functional gynoecium and female flowers deficient in functional androecium borne on separate palms. The presence of male and female flowers on the same plant, a phenomenon known as monoecy, is unusual in male date palms.

This study reports for the first time on hermaphrodite (bisexual) flowers borne by two female date palms, ‘Alligue’, that were found growing in an open field in Degache, southern Tunisia. The observations on these two female palms were compared with hermaphrodite male date palms growing in the same location. Hermaphrodite female date palm inflorescence branches bear female flowers predominantly near their base, in contrast to the hermaphrodite flowers that are found primarily toward their upper part. The position of the hermaphrodite flowers in hermaphrodite male date palms is reversed: inflorescence branches bear male flowers toward the upper part while the hermaphrodite flowers are found at the base. Histological examination of female hermaphrodite flowers revealed that they had three carpels and 1–6 stamens. Hermaphrodite flowers on male plants were usually also composed of three carpels of variable size, and six stamens. Hermaphrodite flowers on both female and male palm trees turn generally into parthenocarpic fruits. The present data support the theory that dioecious plants are derived from a common hermaphrodite ancestor. Floral hermaphroditism in date palm should be investigated in relation to the in planta self-fertilization process to identify sex markers and genes that control sex organ development.     

Comparative analysis of floral pigmentation between wild-type and white-flowered varieties of Cyclamen graecum

Summary

The flower colour of Cyclamen graecum gra6 (wild-type) is pink-purple in the main part of the petal, referred to as the ‘slip’, and deep purple at the petal base, referred to as the ‘eye’. On the other hand, flowers of C. graecum gra50 (a white-flowered variant) exhibit a white colour in both the ‘slip’ and ‘eye’ regions. In this study, the relationship between floral pigmentation and the expression of several anthocyanin biosynthesis genes was investigated in C. graecum gra6 and gra50. The pigments in the ‘slip’ and ‘eye’ regions consist mainly of malvidin 3,5-diglucoside in gra6, suggesting that the difference between the colour of the ‘slip’ and ‘eye’ regions is related to the amount of anthocyanin present. White-flowered C. graecum gra50 possessed lower amounts of anthocyanins, but higher amounts of flavonols compared to gra6, suggesting a change in metabolism caused by a disruption of anthocyanin biosynthesis. Gene expression analysis demonstrated that expression of the dihydroflavonol 4-reductase gene 2 (CgraDFR2) was lower in gra50 compared with gra6, whereas expression of the three other key genes (dihydroflavonol 4-reductase gene 1, flavonoid 3’,5’-hydroxylase, and anthocyanidin synthase) did not differ greatly. These results suggest that the white-flowered variant (gra50) may result from a defect in expression of the CgraDFR2 gene.     

Effect of the expression level of an AGAMOUS-like gene on the petaloidy of stamens in the double-flowered lily, ‘Elodie’

Double-flowered lilies, in which stamens are converted to petaloid organs, are valuable for horticulturists. ‘Elodie’ is a double-flowered lily cultivar in which stamens are homeotically converted into petaloid organs in whorl 3. The ‘Elodie’ cultivar shows individual variation in stamen structure and it was therefore classified into the following three types according to the strength of petaloidy of the stamens: weak (type-I), intermediate (type-II), and strong (type-III) phenotypes. The AGAMOUS (AG) gene is a class C floral identity gene in Arabidopsis thaliana that is involved in the formation of stamens and carpels. An AG-like gene was isolated from ‘Elodie’ (LelAG1) and its expression was compared between flower types. The LelAG1 gene was expressed in whorls 3 and 4, but not in whorls 1 and 2 in all flower types. In type-I flowers, LelAG1 was expressed strongly in whorls 3 and 4, while its expression was significantly decreased in whorl 3 in type-III flowers. In type-II intermediate phenotype flowers, the expression level of LelAG1 in whorl 3 was reduced by 60%. These results suggest that the expression level of AG-like genes is correlated with the degree of petaloidy of the stamens.     

小花草玉梅花器官变异多样性机制初步研究

以野外条件下花器官发生了多样性变异的小花草玉梅(Anemone rivularis var.flore-minore)为材料,根据其花器官变异部位及程度将变异分为5类:全白、绿白相间、五瓣、全绿和极端变异。通过分子鉴定、花器官形态学观察、AP3-3基因分析,对其变异多样性机制进行了初步研究。结果表明,正常植株和变异植株的ITS2和rbc L序列无差异位点,表明正常植株和变异植株为同一物种;形态观察发现变异花形态差异很大,由外向内存在连续变异梯度,除正常和五瓣花的花被片数相对稳定外,其余各类型花器官数和占比均不稳定,且花被片数占比的增减与雄蕊、雌蕊的占比呈负相关,说明变异花中内层增加的花被片可能是由雄蕊和雌蕊转化而来;在正常和绿白相间变异AP3-3序列基础上,扩增其余4种变异植株的AP3-3,比对正常株和变异株AP3-3序列,发现变异株AP3-3在上游调控区有一段插入,在编码区有1个碱基缺失,其可能与小花草玉梅花器官变异有关。     

Effect of low temperatures during flowering on floral cycle and pollen tube growth in nine avocado cultivars

The floral response of the type A avocado cultivars ‘Reed’, ‘Wurtz’, ‘Rincon’ and ‘Jalna’, and the type B cultivars ‘Bacon’, ‘Ryan’, ‘Edranol’, ‘Sharwil’ and ‘Hazzard’ was tested under growth-cabinet conditions of 17° C day, 12° C night, with a 12-h photoperiod and photon flux density of 400 μE m^?2 s^?1 (400–700 nm). Most of the flowers of all type A cultivars and the type B cultivar ‘Bacon’ had both a female and a male stage. None of the flowers of the other type B cultivars had a female stage but opened in the male stage only. Hand pollination resulted in some ovule penetration in the cultivars with female stage flowers. In those with only male-stage flowers, the pollen tubes grew no further than the style. Maintenance of fertility under low-temperature conditions during flowering appeared to be partly, but not entirely, linked to the type A flowering cycle.     

Abortion of reproductive organs in sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum L.): a review

Summary

Levels of abortion of reproductive organs (i.e., buds, flowers, and young fruits) in sweet pepper plants (Capsicum annuum L.) are high, and cyclical fluctuations occur in fruit set. Stages susceptible to abortion are very young buds (< 2.5 mm), buds close to anthesis, and flowers and fruits up to 14 d after anthesis. An overview of factors and processes involved in flower and fruit abortion in sweet peppers is presented. More light, higher CO₂ concentrations, and lower planting density, increase the availability of assimilates per plant, and decrease fruit abortion. The cyclical pattern in fruit set is caused by changes in demand for assimilates. High flower abortion occurs when fast growing fruit (at approx. 3 weeks after anthesis) are present, due to competition for assimilates. Fruit set increases when fast growing fruit are almost mature and have a low assimilate demand. Prior to abortion, auxin export from the reproductive organ diminishes, ethylene production increases, and lower levels of activity of sucrose-cleaving enzymes are found. Severe water stress and low nutrient supply also increase abortion levels. Low night- and high day-time temperatures hamper pollen development, causing low seed set, which can result in fruit abortion. Two theories have been used to explain abortion: unbalanced demand for and supply of assimilates, and hormonal dominance of developing fruit over young fruit. Attempts to prevent abortion or to diminish the cyclical pattern of fruit set have not yet been successful, but new suggestions are presented.     

草原龙胆( Eustoma grandiflorum )单、重瓣花器官分化的形态学观察

 本篇论文主要研究了草原龙胆单重瓣花器官的发育特征。取花部发生的第1个和第2个花芽为试材, 直接用于实体解剖观察。结果表明: 1. 单瓣花和重瓣花花芽分化过程均可分形态分化前期、萼片原基分化期、花瓣原基分化期、雄蕊原基分化期、雌蕊原基分化期5个时期, 各轮花器官按照向心顺序发育。2. 到雌蕊原基形成为止, 单瓣花花器官各原基的分化过程大约需要12 d, 重瓣花的整个分化过程大约需要15 d。3. 单瓣花和重瓣花都包含5枚萼片、5枚雄蕊和1枚雌蕊, 而单瓣花花瓣是5枚, 重瓣花约是15枚。     

Identification and expression analysis of 11 MADS-box genes in peach (Prunus persica var. nectarina ‘Luxing’)

MADS-box genes play a central role in the development of flowers in plants. In this study, 11 PpMADSs were isolated from ‘Luxing’ peach, and the expression levels were detected in different tissues and fruit development. Eleven PpMADSs, designated as PpMADS13, 14, 18, 23, 24, 25, 32, 33, 34, 35, and 39 were isolated. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that PpMADS13, 14, and 18 belonged to SVP, AGL15, and MIKC* group respectively; PpMADS23, 24, 25, and 39 were in the Mα group; PpMADS32, 33, 34, and 35 belonged to the Mγ group. Predictions from subcellular localization showed that 10 PpMADS were located in the nucleus. RT-PCR revealed that PpMADS13 was expressed in stems, leaves, and during fruit development (70d); PpMADS14 was expressed in sepals, stamens, petals, and during flower development; PpMADS18 was expressed in roots, stems, leaves, sepals, ovaries, stamens, petals, and during flower and fruit development; all MADS-box genes (expect for PpMADS33) in the Mα and Mγ group were expressed in roots, stems, leaves, sepals, ovaries, stamens, petals, and during flower development; few genes were expressed during fruit development. These results indicated that PpMADS may play a crucial regulatory role in vegetative growth and development processes of flowers and fruits in peaches.     

茄子反向温敏雄性不育系可溶性糖含量及相关基因表达分析

为揭示茄子反向温敏核雄性不育(rTGMS)发生与糖类代谢的关系,以茄子rTGMS系‘05ms’及温度不敏感系‘S63’为试材,对不育期和可育期的叶片及花蕾的可溶性糖含量进行比较,结果表明,‘05ms’在不育和可育时期叶片和花蕾中的可溶性糖含量均显著低于‘S63’;进一步对‘05ms’花蕾进行转录组测序及对其糖类代谢相关途径进行分析,发现差异表达基因主要富集在3个通路:淀粉和蔗糖代谢、糖酵解/糖异生和氨基糖和核苷酸糖代谢,其中淀粉和蔗糖代谢通路的差异基因最多且大部分在低温条件表达下调,主要影响了葡萄糖和半乳糖醛酸的合成。此结果初步揭示了茄子反向温敏雄性不育系中糖类代谢响应温度变化的特点,为茄子雄性不育杂交育种提供理论依据。     

Reproductive organography of Bougainvillea spectabilis Willd

Bougainvillea spectabilis Willd. is of prime importance for horticulture, as well as potentially for pharmaceutical industries, agriculture and environmental industries. However, its floral development is not yet well understood. A detailed study on floral structure and floral organography in the species was first completed using microscopy of paraffin microtome sections of buds. The results were indicated as follows: first, the three trumped flowers in the cymose inflorescence develop asynchronously. Secondly, Varieties with multi-whorl bracts do not develop any sexual organs, i.e., perianth, pistil and stamens. Thirdly, the wall of the two-loculus anther consists of two kinds of cells: the inner wall, consisting of thick-cytoplasmed cells and the outer wall, consisting of fibrous cells. Fourthly, the pollen grains, with three germination colpi, vary substantially in the form and size in summer under the highest day temperature of 40 °C. Fifthly, the pistil is characterized with betalain-acumulating stylar brush. Followed the developmental course, only one basal ovule is developed in the superior ovary. Finally, organs of one flower develop consecutively from the outer to the inner, i.e., from bracts, to calyx, stamen, and carpel while the three flowers bloomed one by one in one cymose inflorescence. It almost takes 1 week from first bud to the third flower blooming. Our research showed a series of special characteristics of reproduction organography of B. spectabilis which can be useful for understanding its reproduction biology and its sterility.     

早实核桃花器官发育的解剖学研究

 通过形态解剖方法,观察早实核桃品种‘香玲’第1次开花的雌花芽和雄花芽发育特点,结果发现：在山东泰安地区,早实核桃‘香玲’雌花芽的分化从5月上旬—中旬进入形态分化临界期后,历经雌花花序分化期、花柄原基和雌花原基分化期、花被原基分化期、苞片原基分化期、花萼原基分化期、花瓣原基分化期、雌蕊原基分化期和胚珠分化期;个别雌花原基还能分化出花瓣原基和雄蕊原基,雌花花瓣原基和雄蕊原基在随后的发育过程中退化。在晚实核桃品种‘青林’雌花发育过程中没有发现花瓣原基和雄蕊原基的分化。‘香玲’核桃雄花芽的分化从4月上—中旬次第进入雄花序分化期、雄花原基分化期、花萼原基分化期、雄蕊原基分化期、花药分化期、花粉囊和花粉粒形成期。     

芦笋全雄新品种‘WF28’

 芦笋‘WF28’是利用芦笋雄性系两性株选育出的全雄一代杂种, 生育期为245 d, 平均茎高220 cm左右。白笋色泽洁白, 笋条直, 粗细均匀, 质地细嫩, 包头紧密, 无空心, 单支笋质量51 g左右,一级笋率92.2%。平均产量为15 000 kg·hm^-2。白笋铁含量为0.043 mg·g^-1。适宜白笋、绿笋栽培。     

103份桃种质在南京地区的需冷量和需热量研究

[目的]用不同模型估算南京资源圃103份桃种质花芽和叶芽的需冷量和需热量,筛选花芽和叶芽需冷量和需热量的最佳估算模型,探讨需冷量、需热量与开花展叶的关系.[方法]连续2 a(年)(2018年11月-2019年4月和2019年11月-2020年4月),采用3种需冷量估算模型和2种需热量估算模型对103份桃种质(南京地区)...     

Influence of shoot age on floral development and early fruit set in avocado (Persea americana Mill.) cv. Hass

Floral bud development, early fruit set, bud size, leaf nitrogen and shoot starch content were recorded in spring, summer and autumn shoots of ‘Hass’ avocado (Persea americana Mill.). Floral initiation occurred in late autumn, but only in buds on terminal shoots (the last-formed shoot module on a terminal or axillary growth axis). In branching systems with three growth flushes, more flowers were produced and more fruit set on autumn and summer, than on spring flush terminal shoots. Floral development and leaf nitrogen accumulation occurred later in autumn than in summer shoots, but leaf numbers, dry and fresh weights, starch content of wood, mean floral status at anthesis and anthesis date were similar. The results suggest that nitrogen and starch were present in excess during floral development, and that shoot age did not influence the ability of a shoot to flower and set fruit, provided the shoot had sufficient vigour to produce new shoot growth in spring.     

大蒜MADS-box基因AsPI的克隆及表达分析

B类MADS-box基因在调控显花植物的花瓣和雄蕊发育过程中发挥关键作用。为初步了解大蒜花发育的分子机制,以‘阿城紫皮’大蒜(Allium sativum)的花蕾为试材克隆了AsPI(Gen Bank登录号为KY272748)。AsPI的cDNA长939 bp,开放阅读框为615 bp,编码204个氨基酸。推导的氨基酸序列显示,AsPI编码的蛋白质包含高度保守的MADS结构域(1~57氨基酸)和保守的K结构(76~140氨基酸),AsPI蛋白具有PI亚家族特有的序列特征:MADS区特征丝氨酸残基、K区高度保守序列KHExL以及C–末端的PI基序。序列比对、功能域分析及系统发育分析结果表明,AsPI属于单子叶植物B功能基因PI亚家族。半定量和实时RT-PCR检测AsPI在大蒜不同组织器官中的表达模式,结果表明,在花蕾中高丰度表达,在花茎中表达量中等,在根、假茎、嫩叶、保护叶等营养器官中表达量极低甚至不表达。