Pollen tube contents initiate ovule enlargement and enhance seed coat development without fertilization.
In angiosperms, pollen tubes carry two sperm cells toward the egg and central cells to complete double fertilization. In animals, not only sperm but also seminal plasma is required for proper fertilization. However, little is known regarding the function of pollen tube content (PTC), which is analogous to seminal plasma. We report that the PTC plays a vital role in the prefertilization state and causes an enlargement of ovules without fertilization. We termed this phenomenon as pollen tube-dependent ovule enlargement morphology and placed it between pollen tube guidance and double fertilization. Additionally, PTC increases endosperm nuclei without fertilization when combined with autonomous endosperm mutants. This finding could be applied in agriculture, particularly in enhancing seed formation without fertilization in important crops.
Precursory Research for Embryonic Science and Technology (PRESTO) Kasahara Sakigake Project, Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST), Furo, Chikusa, Nagoya, Aichi 464-0814, Japan.; Institute of Transformative Bio-Molecules, Nagoya University, Furo, Chikusa, Nagoya, Aichi 464-0814, Japan.
Ryushiro D
RD
Kasahara
Exploratory Research for Advanced Technology (ERATO) Higashiyama Live-Holonics Project, JST, Furo, Chikusa, Nagoya, Aichi 464-0814, Japan.; Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University, Furo, Chikusa, Nagoya, Aichi 464-0814, Japan.; PRESTO, JST, Furo, Chikusa, Nagoya, Aichi 464-0814, Japan.
Michitaka
M
Notaguchi
Institute of Transformative Bio-Molecules, Nagoya University, Furo, Chikusa, Nagoya, Aichi 464-0814, Japan.; Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University, Furo, Chikusa, Nagoya, Aichi 464-0814, Japan.
Shiori
S
Nagahara
Exploratory Research for Advanced Technology (ERATO) Higashiyama Live-Holonics Project, JST, Furo, Chikusa, Nagoya, Aichi 464-0814, Japan.; Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University, Furo, Chikusa, Nagoya, Aichi 464-0814, Japan.; College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Chubu University, 1200 Matsumoto-cho, Kasugai, Aichi 487-8501, Japan.
Takamasa
T
Suzuki
Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University, Furo, Chikusa, Nagoya, Aichi 464-0814, Japan.; Kihara Institute for Biological Research, Yokohama City University, 641-12 Maioka-cho, Totsuka Ward, Yokohama 244-0813, Japan.
Daichi
D
Susaki
Precursory Research for Embryonic Science and Technology (PRESTO) Kasahara Sakigake Project, Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST), Furo, Chikusa, Nagoya, Aichi 464-0814, Japan.; Institute of Transformative Bio-Molecules, Nagoya University, Furo, Chikusa, Nagoya, Aichi 464-0814, Japan.
Yujiro
Y
Honma
Institute of Transformative Bio-Molecules, Nagoya University, Furo, Chikusa, Nagoya, Aichi 464-0814, Japan.; Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University, Furo, Chikusa, Nagoya, Aichi 464-0814, Japan.; Kihara Institute for Biological Research, Yokohama City University, 641-12 Maioka-cho, Totsuka Ward, Yokohama 244-0813, Japan.
Daisuke
D
Maruyama
Institute of Transformative Bio-Molecules, Nagoya University, Furo, Chikusa, Nagoya, Aichi 464-0814, Japan.; Exploratory Research for Advanced Technology (ERATO) Higashiyama Live-Holonics Project, JST, Furo, Chikusa, Nagoya, Aichi 464-0814, Japan.; Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University, Furo, Chikusa, Nagoya, Aichi 464-0814, Japan.
Tetsuya
T
Higashiyama
D017360:Arabidopsis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D009154:Mutation; D056771:Ovule / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D053205:Pollen Tube / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012639:Seeds / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
Plant sciences; agriculture; cell biology; plant reproduction; pollen tube contents