Doubled haploid (DH) technology enables the generation and evaluation of new plant genotypes in ≤ 2 years, which is in stark contrast to the 6-7 years required for conventional breeding. Recently, a few proteins including MATRILINEAL (MTL) were found to trigger haploid induction in monocot plants. However, MTL function in dicot plants remains unclear. Here, we investigate the effects of Arabidopsis PATATIN-RELATED PHOSPHOLIPASE 2A (pPLA-IIa), a maize MTL homolog, on the expression of genes that modulate pollen development and fertilization in Arabidopsis. Quantitative real-time PCR analysis showed that transcript levels of four pollen tube growth-related genes and six pollen guidance- or reception-related genes were increased in the
Gibberellins (GAs) are important hormones at every plant developmental stage including vegetative and reproductive. It is reported in many plant species that many dwarfism and male sterile mutants have defective GA biosynthesis genes. RNA interference (RNAi) technology can reduce expression of specific genes at the transcription level. Also, promoters can control the spatial and temporal expression of genes. Specific promoters containing the RNAi vector can control specific genes’ spatial and temporal expression at the transcriptional level. In this study, at first, five anther specific promoters were chosen and verified by examining their tissue specific expression using promoter::GUS transgenic analysis. RNAi vectors, which contain five anther specific promoters and one constitutive promoter fused to GA biosynthesis related genes, were constructed for controlling of GA biosynthesis in stem and floral tissue.
Temperatures that extend beyond normal levels of tolerance cause severe stress to plants, especially during the reproductive and grain filling/ripening stages. Heat stress leads to serious yield losses in many crop plants, including rice (
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Male sterility is an important trait for crop breeding program based on heterosis. Recent advances in molecular researches have led to the identification of genes involved in plant reproductive development and understanding the molecular functions of rice male gametophyte including roles of phytohormones in reproduction process. Here, we review the genes required for key aspects of anther/pollen development and conventional methods for the production of hybrid seeds in rice. Finally, we discuss the molecular approaches for the generation of male-sterile lines through the regulation of phytohormonal biosynthesis in reproductive organs.
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