biologia plantarum

International journal on Plant Life established by Bohumil Nìmec in 1959

Biologia plantarum 56:620-627, 2012 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-012-0256-2

A pattern of unique embryogenesis occurring via apomixis in Carya cathayensis

B. Zhang1,2, Z. J. Wang1, S. H. Jin1, G. H. Xia1, Y. J. Huang1, J. Q. Huang1,*
1 School of Forestry and Biotechnology, Zhejiang A & F University, Lin'an, P.R. China
2 Bureau of Agricultural Economics of Haiyan, Haiyan, P.R. China

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.

Keywords: adventitious embryony; female gametophyte; hickory; nucellar embryo
Subjects: apomixis; female gametophyte; nucellar embryo; flowering; fruit development; embryo sac; megaspore mother cell; developmental stages

Received: April 7, 2011; Accepted: October 7, 2011; Published: December 1, 2012  Show citation

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Zhang, B., Wang, Z.J., Jin, S.H., Xia, G.H., Huang, Y.J., & Huang, J.Q. (2012). A pattern of unique embryogenesis occurring via apomixis in Carya cathayensis. Biologia plantarum, 56(4), 620-627. doi: 10.1007/s10535-012-0256-2
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