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Pollen Tube and Plant Reproduction

A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Plant Sciences".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 September 2018) | Viewed by 55395

Special Issue Editors

Department of Life Sciences, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
Interests: plant cell cytoskeleton; cell wall; organelle movement; cell morphogenesis; plant reproduction
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Department of Biology, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
Interests: plant reproduction; pollen tube growth; self-incompatibility; programmed cell death; pollen allergens
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The pollen tube is a fundamental cell in the reproduction process of seed plants. The evolution of this cell has allowed plants to significantly reduce the need for water during the reproductive process, allowing them to conquer more lands. In its simplicity, the pollen tube exhibits several remarkable peculiarities, such as tip growth, a specifically organized cytoskeleton, a cell wall adapted to the growth mechanism and internal transport of sperm cells. Its biological importance and ease of analysis have made the pollen tube one of the most important cell models in plant biology. The importance of research on pollen tubes is always relevant, as demonstrated by the several articles published each year. The purpose of this Special Issue (which should report information or viewpoints of outstanding novelty) is to explore the key aspects of the mechanisms of functioning of the pollen tube in terms of reproductive success of plants. Self-incompatibility, regulation of pollen tube growth by female signals, negative effects of adverse environments on the growth process and therefore on reproduction are only a few of the research topics that are welcome in the special issue. The structure and function of other components of the pollen tube growth machinery, metabolism, genomics, biogenesis and senescence, reactive oxygen species and membrane transport are also of interest. Significant progress in pollen transformation is also welcome.

Prof. Giampiero Cai
Prof. Stefano Del Duca
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • Self-incompatibility
  • Cell wall
  • Cell-cell communication
  • Abiotic stress
  • Cell morphogenesis
  • Plant reproduction
  • Plant metabolism
  • Plant genetics

Published Papers (11 papers)

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Editorial

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3 pages, 145 KiB  
Editorial
Pollen Tube and Plant Reproduction
by Giampiero Cai and Stefano Del Duca
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2019, 20(3), 531; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms20030531 - 27 Jan 2019
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2279
Abstract
The pollen tube was a fundamental step forward in the evolution of terrestrial plants; in fact, it allowed plants to liberate themselves from water demand during reproduction [...] Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Pollen Tube and Plant Reproduction)

Research

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13 pages, 1535 KiB  
Article
Identification of Self-Incompatibility Alleles by Specific PCR Analysis and S-RNase Sequencing in Apricot
by Sara Herrera, Javier Rodrigo, José I. Hormaza and Jorge Lora
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2018, 19(11), 3612; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms19113612 - 15 Nov 2018
Cited by 20 | Viewed by 4471
Abstract
Self-incompatibility (SI) is one of the most efficient mechanisms to promote out-crossing in plants. However, SI could be a problem for fruit production. An example is apricot (Prunus armeniaca), in which, as in other species of the Rosaceae, SI is determined [...] Read more.
Self-incompatibility (SI) is one of the most efficient mechanisms to promote out-crossing in plants. However, SI could be a problem for fruit production. An example is apricot (Prunus armeniaca), in which, as in other species of the Rosaceae, SI is determined by an S-RNase-based-Gametophytic Self-Incompatibility (GSI) system. Incompatibility relationships between cultivars can be established by an S-allele genotyping PCR strategy. Until recently, most of the traditional European apricot cultivars were self-compatible but several breeding programs have introduced an increasing number of new cultivars whose pollination requirements are unknown. To fill this gap, we have identified the S-allele of 44 apricot genotypes, of which 43 are reported here for the first time. The identification of Sc in 15 genotypes suggests that those cultivars are self-compatible. In five genotypes, self-(in)compatibility was established by the observation of pollen tube growth in self-pollinated flowers, since PCR analysis could not allowed distinguishing between the Sc and S8 alleles. Self-incompatible genotypes were assigned to their corresponding self-incompatibility groups. The knowledge of incompatibility relationships between apricot cultivars can be a highly valuable tool for the development of future breeding programs by selecting the appropriate parents and for efficient orchard design by planting self-compatible and inter-compatible cultivars. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Pollen Tube and Plant Reproduction)
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18 pages, 13795 KiB  
Article
Morphological Type Identification of Self-Incompatibility in Dendrobium and Its Phylogenetic Evolution Pattern
by Shan-Ce Niu, Jie Huang, Qing Xu, Pei-Xing Li, Hai-Jun Yang, Yong-Qiang Zhang, Guo-Qiang Zhang, Li-Jun Chen, Yun-Xia Niu, Yi-Bo Luo and Zhong-Jian Liu
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2018, 19(9), 2595; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms19092595 - 01 Sep 2018
Cited by 18 | Viewed by 4931
Abstract
Self-incompatibility (SI) is a type of reproductive barrier within plant species and is one of the mechanisms for the formation and maintenance of the high diversity and adaptation of angiosperm species. Approximately 40% of flowering plants are SI species, while only 10% of [...] Read more.
Self-incompatibility (SI) is a type of reproductive barrier within plant species and is one of the mechanisms for the formation and maintenance of the high diversity and adaptation of angiosperm species. Approximately 40% of flowering plants are SI species, while only 10% of orchid species are self-incompatible. Intriguingly, as one of the largest genera in Orchidaceae, 72% of Dendrobium species are self-incompatible, accounting for nearly half of the reported SI species in orchids, suggesting that SI contributes to the high diversity of orchid species. However, few studies investigating SI in Dendrobium have been published. This study aimed to address the following questions: (1) How many SI phenotypes are in Dendrobium, and what are they? (2) What is their distribution pattern in the Dendrobium phylogenetic tree? We investigated the flowering time, the capsule set rate, and the pollen tube growth from the representative species of Dendrobium after artificial pollination and analysed their distribution in the Asian Dendrobium clade phylogenetic tree. The number of SI phenotypes exceeded our expectations. The SI type of Dendrobium chrysanthum was the primary type in the Dendrobium SI species. We speculate that there are many different SI determinants in Dendrobium that have evolved recently and might be specific to Dendrobium or Orchidaceae. Overall, this work provides new insights and a comprehensive understanding of Dendrobium SI. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Pollen Tube and Plant Reproduction)
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13 pages, 3424 KiB  
Article
GmIDL2a and GmIDL4a, Encoding the Inflorescence Deficient in Abscission-Like Protein, Are Involved in Soybean Cell Wall Degradation during Lateral Root Emergence
by Chen Liu, Chunyu Zhang, Mingxia Fan, Wenjuan Ma, Meiming Chen, Fengchun Cai, Kuichen Liu and Feng Lin
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2018, 19(8), 2262; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms19082262 - 02 Aug 2018
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 3166
Abstract
The number of lateral roots (LRs) of a plant determines the efficiency of water and nutrient uptake. Soybean is a typical taproot crop which is deficient in LRs. The number of LRs is therefore an important agronomic trait in soybean breeding. It is [...] Read more.
The number of lateral roots (LRs) of a plant determines the efficiency of water and nutrient uptake. Soybean is a typical taproot crop which is deficient in LRs. The number of LRs is therefore an important agronomic trait in soybean breeding. It is reported that the inflorescence deficient in abscission (IDA) protein plays an important role in the emergence of Arabidopsis LRs. Previously, the genes which encode IDA-like (IDL) proteins have been identified in the soybean genome. However, the functions of these genes in LR development are unknown. Therefore, it is of great value to investigate the function of IDL genes in soybean. In the present study, the functions of two root-specific expressed IDL genes, GmIDL2a and GmIDL4a, are investigated. The expressions of GmIDL2a and GmIDL4a, induced by auxin, are located in the overlaying tissue, where LRs are initiated. Overexpression of GmIDL2a and GmIDL4a increases the LR densities of the primary roots, but not in the elder root. Abnormal cell layer separation has also been observed in GmIDL2a- and GmIDL4a-overexpressing roots. These results suggest that the overlaying tissues of GmIDL2a- and GmIDL4a-overexpressing roots are looser and are suitable for the emergence of the LR primordium. Further investigation shows that the expression of some of the cell wall remodeling (CWR) genes, such as xyloglucan endotransglucosylase/hydrolases, expansins, and polygalacturonases, are increased when GmIDL2a and GmIDL4a are overexpressed in hairy roots. Here, we conclude that GmIDL2a and GmIDL4a function in LR emergence through regulating soybean CWR gene expression. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Pollen Tube and Plant Reproduction)
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25 pages, 7194 KiB  
Article
Can Selenium and Molybdenum Restrain Cadmium Toxicity to Pollen Grains in Brassica napus?
by Marwa A. Ismael, Ali Mohamed Elyamine, Yuan Yuan Zhao, Mohamed G. Moussa, Muhammad Shoaib Rana, Javaria Afzal, Muhammad Imran, Xiao Hu Zhao and Cheng Xiao Hu
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2018, 19(8), 2163; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms19082163 - 24 Jul 2018
Cited by 57 | Viewed by 5894
Abstract
Cadmium (Cd) is highly toxic, even at very low concentrations, to both animals and plants. Pollen is extremely sensitive to heavy metal pollutants; however, less attention has been paid to the protection of this vital part under heavy metal stress. A pot experiment [...] Read more.
Cadmium (Cd) is highly toxic, even at very low concentrations, to both animals and plants. Pollen is extremely sensitive to heavy metal pollutants; however, less attention has been paid to the protection of this vital part under heavy metal stress. A pot experiment was designed to investigate the effect of foliar application of Se (1 mg/L) and Mo (0.3 mg/L) either alone or in combination on their absorption, translocation, and their impact on Cd uptake and its further distribution in Brassica napus, as well as the impact of these fertilizers on the pollen grains morphology, viability, and germination rate in B. napus under Cd stress. Foliar application of either Se or Mo could counteract Cd toxicity and increase the plant biomass, while combined application of Se and Mo solutions on B. napus has no significant promotional effect on plant root and stem, but reduces the seeds’ weight by 10–11%. Se and Mo have decreased the accumulated Cd in seeds by 6.8% and 9.7%, respectively. Microscopic studies, SEM, and pollen viability tests demonstrated that pollen grains could be negatively affected by Cd, thus disturbing the plant fertility. Se and Mo foliar application could reduce the toxic symptoms in pollen grains when the one or the other was sprayed alone on plants. In an in vitro pollen germination test, 500 μM Cd stress could strongly inhibit the pollen germination rate to less than 2.5%, however, when Se (10 μM) or Mo (1.0 μM) was added to the germination medium, the rate increased, reaching 66.2% and 39.4%, respectively. At the molecular level, Se and Mo could greatly affect the expression levels of some genes related to Cd uptake by roots (IRT1), Cd transport (HMA2 and HMA4), Cd sequestration in plant vacuoles (HMA3), and the final Cd distribution in plant tissue at the physiological level (PCS1). Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Pollen Tube and Plant Reproduction)
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20 pages, 5995 KiB  
Article
Transcriptomics Investigation into the Mechanisms of Self-Incompatibility between Pin and Thrum Morphs of Primula maximowiczii
by Wanpei Lu, Xiaomeng Bian, Weiru Yang, Tangren Cheng, Jia Wang, Qixiang Zhang and Huitang Pan
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2018, 19(7), 1840; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms19071840 - 22 Jun 2018
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 4381
Abstract
Heteromorphic self-incompatibility (SI) is an important system for preventing inbreeding in the genus Primula. However, investigations into the molecular mechanisms of Primula SI are lacking. To explore the mechanisms of SI in Primula maximowiczii, the pollen germination and fruiting rates of [...] Read more.
Heteromorphic self-incompatibility (SI) is an important system for preventing inbreeding in the genus Primula. However, investigations into the molecular mechanisms of Primula SI are lacking. To explore the mechanisms of SI in Primula maximowiczii, the pollen germination and fruiting rates of self- and cross-pollinations between pin and thrum morphs were investigated, and transcriptomics analyses of the pistils after pollination were performed to assess gene expression patterns in pin and thrum SI. The results indicated that P. maximowiczii exhibits strong SI and that the mechanisms of pollen tube inhibition differ between pin and thrum morphs. While self-pollen tubes of the pin morph were able to occasionally, though rarely, enter the style, those of the thrum morph were never observed to enter the style. The transcriptomics analysis of the pistils revealed 1311 and 1048 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) that were identified by comparing pin self-pollination (PS) vs. pin cross-pollination (PT) and thrum self-pollination (TS) vs. thrum cross-pollination (TP). Notably, about 90% of these DEGs exhibited different expression patterns in the two comparisons. Moreover, pin and thrum DEGs were associated with different Gene Ontology (GO) categories and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways following enrichment analyses. Based on our results, the molecular mechanisms underlying the pin and thrum SI in P. maximowiczii appear to be distinct. Furthermore, the genes involved in the SI processes are commonly associated with carbohydrate metabolism and environmental adaptation. These results provide new insight into the molecular mechanisms of Primula SI. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Pollen Tube and Plant Reproduction)
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15 pages, 3656 KiB  
Article
Transcriptomic and GC-MS Metabolomic Analyses Reveal the Sink Strength Changes during Petunia Anther Development
by Yuanzheng Yue, Shaoze Tian, Yu Wang, Hui Ma, Siyu Liu, Yuqiao Wang and Huirong Hu
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2018, 19(4), 955; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms19040955 - 23 Mar 2018
Cited by 15 | Viewed by 3912
Abstract
Petunia, which has been prevalently cultivated in landscaping, is a dicotyledonous herbaceous flower of high ornamental value. Annually, there is a massive worldwide market demand for petunia seeds. The normal development of anther is the necessary prerequisite for the plants to generate [...] Read more.
Petunia, which has been prevalently cultivated in landscaping, is a dicotyledonous herbaceous flower of high ornamental value. Annually, there is a massive worldwide market demand for petunia seeds. The normal development of anther is the necessary prerequisite for the plants to generate seeds. However, the knowledge of petunia anther development processes is still limited. To better understand the mechanisms of petunia anther development, the transcriptomes and metabolomes of petunia anthers at three typical development stages were constructed and then used to detect the gene expression patterns and primary metabolite profiles during the anther development processes. Results suggested that there were many differentially-expressed genes (DEGs) that mainly participated in photosynthesis and starch and sucrose metabolism when DEGs were compared between the different development stages of anthers. In this study, fructose and glucose, which were involved in starch and sucrose metabolism, were taken as the most important metabolites by partial least-squares discriminate analysis (PLS-DA). Additionally, the qRT-PCR analysis of the photosynthetic-related genes all showed decreased expression trends along with the anther development. These pieces of evidence indicated that the activities of energy and carbohydrate metabolic pathways were gradually reduced during all the development stages of anther, which affects the sink strength. Overall, this work provides a novel and comprehensive understanding of the metabolic processes in petunia anthers. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Pollen Tube and Plant Reproduction)
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22 pages, 10617 KiB  
Article
Investigation of Differences in Fertility among Progenies from Self-Pollinated Chrysanthemum
by Fan Wang, Xinghua Zhong, Haibin Wang, Aiping Song, Fadi Chen, Weimin Fang, Jiafu Jiang and Nianjun Teng
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2018, 19(3), 832; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms19030832 - 13 Mar 2018
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 5197
Abstract
Most chrysanthemum cultivars are self-incompatible, so it is very difficult to create pure lines that are important in chrysanthemum breeding and theoretical studies. In our previous study, we obtained a self-compatible chrysanthemum cultivar and its self-pollinated seed set was 56.50%. It was interesting [...] Read more.
Most chrysanthemum cultivars are self-incompatible, so it is very difficult to create pure lines that are important in chrysanthemum breeding and theoretical studies. In our previous study, we obtained a self-compatible chrysanthemum cultivar and its self-pollinated seed set was 56.50%. It was interesting that the seed set of its ten progenies ranged from 0% to 37.23%. Examination of the factors causing the differences in the seed set will lead to an improved understanding of chrysanthemum self-incompatibility, and provide valuable information for creating pure lines. Pollen morphology, pollen germination percentage, pistil receptivity and embryo development were investigated using the in vitro culture method, the paraffin section technique, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. Moreover, RNA sequencing and bioinformatics were applied to analyzing the transcriptomic profiles of mature stigmas and anthers. It was found that the self-pollinated seed set of “Q10-33-1①”,”Q10-33-1③”,”Q10-33-1④” and “Q10-33-1⑩” were 37.23%, 26.77%, 7.97% and 0%, respectively. The differences in fertility among four progenies were mainly attributable to differences in pollen germination percentage and pistil receptivity. Failure of the seed set in “Q10-33-1⑩” was possibly due to self-incompatibility. In the transcriptomic files, 22 potential stigma S genes and 8 potential pollen S genes were found out. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Pollen Tube and Plant Reproduction)
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Review

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11 pages, 555 KiB  
Review
Cytoskeleton, Transglutaminase and Gametophytic Self-Incompatibility in the Malinae (Rosaceae)
by Stefano Del Duca, Iris Aloisi, Luigi Parrotta and Giampiero Cai
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2019, 20(1), 209; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms20010209 - 08 Jan 2019
Cited by 20 | Viewed by 4928
Abstract
Self-incompatibility (SI) is a complex process, one out of several mechanisms that prevent plants from self-fertilizing to maintain and increase the genetic variability. This process leads to the rejection of the male gametophyte and requires the co-participation of numerous molecules. Plants have evolved [...] Read more.
Self-incompatibility (SI) is a complex process, one out of several mechanisms that prevent plants from self-fertilizing to maintain and increase the genetic variability. This process leads to the rejection of the male gametophyte and requires the co-participation of numerous molecules. Plants have evolved two distinct SI systems, the sporophytic (SSI) and the gametophytic (GSI) systems. The two SI systems are markedly characterized by different genes and proteins and each single system can also be divided into distinct subgroups; whatever the mechanism, the purpose is the same, i.e., to prevent self-fertilization. In Malinae, a subtribe in the Rosaceae family, i.e., Pyrus communis and Malus domestica, the GSI requires the production of female determinants, known as S-RNases, which penetrate the pollen tube to interact with the male determinants. Beyond this, the penetration of S-RNase into the pollen tube triggers a series of responses involving membrane proteins, such as phospholipases, intracellular variations of cytoplasmic Ca2+, production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and altered enzymatic activities, such as that of transglutaminase (TGase). TGases are widespread enzymes that catalyze the post-translational conjugation of polyamines (PAs) to different protein targets and/or the cross-linking of substrate proteins leading to the formation of cross-linked products with high molecular mass. When actin and tubulin are the substrates, this destabilizes the cytoskeleton and inhibits the pollen-tube’s growth process. In this review, we will summarize the current knowledge of the relationship between S-RNase penetration, TGase activity and cytoskeleton function during GSI in the Malinae. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Pollen Tube and Plant Reproduction)
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13 pages, 649 KiB  
Review
Actin Bundles in The Pollen Tube
by Shujuan Zhang, Chunbo Wang, Min Xie, Jinyu Liu, Zhe Kong and Hui Su
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2018, 19(12), 3710; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms19123710 - 22 Nov 2018
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 4685
Abstract
The angiosperm pollen tube delivers two sperm cells into the embryo sac through a unique growth strategy, named tip growth, to accomplish fertilization. A great deal of experiments have demonstrated that actin bundles play a pivotal role in pollen tube tip growth. There [...] Read more.
The angiosperm pollen tube delivers two sperm cells into the embryo sac through a unique growth strategy, named tip growth, to accomplish fertilization. A great deal of experiments have demonstrated that actin bundles play a pivotal role in pollen tube tip growth. There are two distinct actin bundle populations in pollen tubes: the long, rather thick actin bundles in the shank and the short, highly dynamic bundles near the apex. With the development of imaging techniques over the last decade, great breakthroughs have been made in understanding the function of actin bundles in pollen tubes, especially short subapical actin bundles. Here, we tried to draw an overall picture of the architecture, functions and underlying regulation mechanism of actin bundles in plant pollen tubes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Pollen Tube and Plant Reproduction)
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15 pages, 838 KiB  
Review
The Long Journey of Pollen Tube in the Pistil
by Yang-Yang Zheng, Xian-Ju Lin, Hui-Min Liang, Fang-Fei Wang and Li-Yu Chen
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2018, 19(11), 3529; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms19113529 - 09 Nov 2018
Cited by 36 | Viewed by 10481
Abstract
In non-cleistogamous plants, the male gametophyte, the pollen grain is immotile and exploits various agents, such as pollinators, wind, and even water, to arrive to a receptive stigma. The complex process of pollination involves a tubular structure, i.e., the pollen tube, which delivers [...] Read more.
In non-cleistogamous plants, the male gametophyte, the pollen grain is immotile and exploits various agents, such as pollinators, wind, and even water, to arrive to a receptive stigma. The complex process of pollination involves a tubular structure, i.e., the pollen tube, which delivers the two sperm cells to the female gametophyte to enable double fertilization. The pollen tube has to penetrate the stigma, grow in the style tissues, pass through the septum, grow along the funiculus, and navigate to the micropyle of the ovule. It is a long journey for the pollen tube and its two sperm cells before they meet the female gametophyte, and it requires very accurate regulation to perform successful fertilization. In this review, we update the knowledge of molecular dialogues of pollen-pistil interaction, especially the progress of pollen tube activation and guidance, and give perspectives for future research. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Pollen Tube and Plant Reproduction)
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