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Development of the Suspensor: Differentiation, Communication, and Programmed Cell Death During Plant Embryogenesis

  • Chapter
Cellular and Molecular Biology of Plant Seed Development

Part of the book series: Advances in Cellular and Molecular Biology of Plants ((CMBP,volume 4))

Abstract

The suspensor functions early in embryogenesis to provide physical support, nutrition, and growth regulators to the developing embryo proper. In most plants, the suspensor is derived from the basal cell produced following asymmetric division of the zygote. Cellular differences between the suspensor and embryo proper may result from morphogenetic gradients established prior to division of the zygote. The suspensor develops rapidly with respect to the embryo proper and becomes the first differentiated embryonic structure produced during seed development. The suspensor later undergoes programmed cell death and is not present in mature seeds. Several abnormal suspensor mutants of Arabidopsis have been identified in which the suspensor fails to undergo programmed cell death and instead proliferates to form a structure with features characteristic of the embryo proper. Analysis of these mutants suggests that communication with the embryo proper is required early in embryogenesis for maintenance of suspensor cell identity and later in suspensor development for initiation of programmed cell death. The pattern of embryogenic transformation observed in these mutants indicates that suspensor cells have the potential to recapitulate the entire spectrum of developmental programs normally restricted to the embryo proper. During normal development, interactions with the embryo proper appear to inhibit embryogenic programs, allowing suspensor cell identity to be maintained. Based on these observations, we propose that negative regulation of developmental potential plays a major role in suspensor cell differentiation and that the suspensor may serve as a valuable system for addressing mechanisms of cell differentiation and cellular communication during plant development.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Botany, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK, 74078, USA

    Brian W. Schwartz, Daniel M. Vernon & David W. Meinke

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  1. Brian W. Schwartz
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  2. Daniel M. Vernon
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  3. David W. Meinke
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Plant Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA

    Brian A. Larkins

  2. Laboratory of Plant Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA

    Indra K. Vasil

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© 1997 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht

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Schwartz, B.W., Vernon, D.M., Meinke, D.W. (1997). Development of the Suspensor: Differentiation, Communication, and Programmed Cell Death During Plant Embryogenesis. In: Larkins, B.A., Vasil, I.K. (eds) Cellular and Molecular Biology of Plant Seed Development. Advances in Cellular and Molecular Biology of Plants, vol 4. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-015-8909-3_2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-015-8909-3_2

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-90-481-4878-3

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