Syncyte formation in the microsporangium of Chrysanthemum (Asteraceae): a pathway to infraspecific polyploidy.
Polyploidy, which is thought to have played an important role in plant evolution and speciation, is prevalent in Chrysanthemum (x = 9). In fact, polyploid series are known in C. zawadskii (2x, 4x, 6x, 8x, and 10x) and C. indicum (2x, 4x, and 6x), but the mechanism by which polyploidization occurs is unknown. Here we show that in diploid individuals of both C. zawadskii and C. indicum, the fusion between two adjacent pollen mother cells (PMCs) occurs at a frequency of 1.1-1.3% early in the first meiotic division. While possessing the chromosomes of both PMCs, the fused cell or syncyte undertakes subsequent meiotic division processes as a single large PMC, producing four 2n pollen grains that are able to germinate. Despite their low frequency, syncyte formation may have played a major role in the production of infraspecific polyploids in Chrysanthemum.
Division of Life Science, School of Life Science and Biotechnology, Korea University, Seoul 136-701, Korea.
Jung Sung
JS
Kim
Kazuo
K
Oginuma
Hiroshi
H
Tobe
D031202:Chrysanthemum / Q000166:cytology* / Q000235:genetics*; D056130:Gametogenesis, Plant / Q000502:physiology; D055993:Germ Cells, Plant / Q000166:cytology*; D018525:Germination / Q000502:physiology; D008540:Meiosis; D011058:Pollen / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000166:cytology; D011123:Polyploidy; D013045:Species Specificity