Open AccessFemale gametophyte development and embryogenesis in Taxus baccata L.
Author(s) -
Vladimir Brukhin,
Peter V. Bozhkov
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
acta societatis botanicorum poloniae
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.297
H-Index - 29
eISSN - 2083-9480
pISSN - 0001-6977
DOI - 10.5586/asbp.1996.023
Subject(s) - megaspore , suspensor , ovule , gametophyte , biology , polyembryony , taxus , botany , embryogenesis , microspore , embryo , morphogenesis , pollen , microbiology and biotechnology , stamen , somatic embryogenesis , biochemistry , gene
Crassinucellate ovules are initiated in Taxus, directly from the shoot apex. The rudimentary pollen chamber is formed in the nucellus. A linear tetrad of megaspores with a functional chalazal megaspore is formed. A free-nuclear stage is charac-teristic at the beginning of megagametophyte development. Archegonia without ventral canal cell are solitary or in complexes. The embryo has a very long suspensor even after maturation. Two types of polyembryony have been revealed: i) embryogenic redifferentiation of suspensor cells and ii) cleavage of embryonic region in the early embryo. In the northern temperate climate of St. Petersburg one month delay in development of reproductive structures has been noted