Abstract
Apomixis represents an alteration of classical sexual plant reproduction to produce seeds that have essentially clonal embryos. In this report, hickory (Carya cathayensis Sarg.), which is an important oil tree, is identified as a new apomictic species. The ovary has a chamber containing one ovule that is unitegmic and orthotropous. Embryological investigations indicated that the developmental pattern of embryo sac formation is typical polygonum-type. Zygote embryos were not found during numerous histological investigations, and the embryo originated from nucellar cells. Nucellar embryo initials were found both at the micropylar and chalazal ends of the embryo sac, but the mature embryo developed only at the nucellar beak region. The mass of the nucellar embryo initial at the nucellar beak region developed into a nucellar embryo or split into two nucellar proembryos. The later development of the nucellar embryo was similar to the zygotic embryo and progressed from globular embryo to heart-shape embryo and to cotyledon embryo.
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Abbreviations
- AFLP:
-
amplified fragment length polymorphism
- DAP:
-
days after pollination
- FCSS:
-
flow cytometric seed screening
- SSR:
-
simple sequence repeat
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Acknowledgments: This study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (30872047, 31170584 and 31100229), the Zhejiang Provincial Natural Science Foundation (z307534 and Y3110311).
These authors contributed equally to this work.
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Zhang, B., Wang, Z.J., Jin, S.H. et al. A pattern of unique embryogenesis occurring via apomixis in Carya cathayensis . Biol Plant 56, 620–627 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10535-012-0256-2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10535-012-0256-2