Haploid Origin of Cork Oak Anther Embryos Detected by Enzyme and RAPD Gene Markers

In vitro androgenesis: spontaneous vs. artificial genome doubling and characterization of regenerants

Androgenesis has become the most frequently chosen method of doubled haploid (DH) production in major crops. Theoretically, plantlets derived from in vitro cultured microspore encompass half of the normal chromosome number of donor plants and thus, considered to be haploid. However, depending on species/genotype and the method of haploid production, either via anther or isolated microspore culture, different ratios of spontaneous DHs and diploid (2n) or even polyploid plants originating from somatic tissues or unreduced gametes may also arise in the cultures. Adopting the method of haploid identification, anti-microtubular agent for restoring fertility, and discriminating spontaneous DHs from undesired heterozygote plants will substantially affect the success of androgenesis in breeding programs. The recent advances in the last 2 decades have made it possible to characterize the in vitro regenerants efficiently either prior to genome duplication or using in breeding programs. The herein described approaches and antimicotubular agents are, therefore, expected to improve the efficiency of DH-based breeding pipeline through the in vitro androgenesis.

Proteomics research on forest trees, the most recalcitrant and orphan plant species

The contribution of proteomics to the knowledge of forest tree (the most recalcitrant and almost forgotten plant species) biology is being reviewed and discussed, based on the author's own research work and papers published up to November 2010. This review is organized in four introductory sections starting with the definition of forest trees (1), the description of the environmental and economic importance (2) and its derived current priorities and research lines for breeding and conservation (3) including forest tree genomics (4). These precede the main body of this review: a general overview to proteomics (5) for introducing the forest tree proteomics section (6). Proteomics, defined as scientific discipline or experimental approach, it will be discussed both from a conceptual and methodological point of view, commenting on realities, challenges and limitations. Proteomics research in woody plants is limited to a reduced number of genera, including Pinus, Picea, Populus, Eucalyptus, and Fagus, mainly using first-generation approaches, e.g., those based on two-dimensional electrophoresis coupled to mass spectrometry. This area joins the own limitations of the technique and the difficulty and recalcitrance of the plant species as an experimental system. Furthermore, it contributes to a deeper knowledge of some biological processes, namely growth, development, organogenesis, and responses to stresses, as it is also used in the characterization and cataloguing of natural populations and biodiversity (proteotyping) and in assisting breeding programmes.

Antimitotic agents increase the production of doubled-haploid embryos from cork oak anther culture

The objective of this study is to induce the nuclear DNA duplication of anther-derived embryos of cork oak (Quercus suber L.) to obtain doubled-haploid plants. Anther culture of this species produces a low percentage (7.78%) of spontaneous diploids, as assessed by flow cytometry. Therefore, three antimitotic agents, colchicine, oryzalin and amiprophos-methyl (APM), were applied in vitro to anther-derived cork oak haploid embryos from six genotypes at different concentrations and for different treatment durations. Antimitotic toxicity was determined by embryo survival. Efficiency in inducing chromosome doubling of haploid embryos was evaluated by flow cytometry measurements and differences were observed between treatments. Nuclear DNA duplication and embryo survival of cork oak haploid embryos was most efficiently induced with oryzalin 0.01 mM for 48 h. Around 50% diploid embryos were obtained. The rate of chromosome duplication induced by APM 0.01 mM was also acceptable but lower than that induced by oryzalin, regardless of the duration of the treatment. Colchicine 1.3 or 8.8 mM was the least efficient, with the induction of necrosis and only a small rate of nuclear DNA duplication.

Microspore-derived embryos from Quercus suber anthers mimic zygotic embryos and maintain haploidy in long-term anther culture

Microspore-derived embryos produced from cork oak anther cultures after long-term incubations (up to 10-12 months) were analysed in order to determine the genetic variability and ploidy level stability, as well as morphology, developmental pattern and cellular organisation. Most of the embryos from long-term anther cultures were haploid (90.7%), corresponding to their microspore origin. The presence of a low percentage of diploid embryos (7.4%) was observed. Microsatellite analysis of haploid embryos, indicated different microspores origins of the same anther. In the diploid embryos, homozygosity for different alleles was detected from anther wall tissues, excluding the possibility of clonal origin. The maintenance of a high proportion of haploid embryos, in long-term anther cultures, is similar in percentage to that reported in embryos originating after 20 days of plating (Bueno et al. 1997). This suggests that no significant alterations in the ploidy level occurred during long incubations (up to 12 months). These results suggest that ploidy changes are rare in this in vitro system, and do not significantly increase during long-term cultures. Microscopical studies of the microspore embryos in various stages revealed a healthy and well developed anatomy with no aberrant or chimeric structures. The general morphology of embryos appearing at different times after plating, looked similar to that of earlier embryos, as well as the zygotic embryos, indicating that they represent high quality material for cork oak breeding.

SSR markers for Quercus suber tree identification and embryo analysis

Three Quercus simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers were amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) from nuclear DNA extracts of trees and in vitro-induced haploid embryos from anther cultures of Quercus suber L. These markers were sufficiently polymorphic to identify 10 of 12 trees located in two Spanish natural areas. The same loci have been analyzed in anther-derived haploid embryos showing the parental tree allele segregation. All the alleles were present in the haploid progeny. The presence of diverse alleles in embryos derived from the same anther demonstrated that they were induced on multiple microspores or pollen grains and they were not clonally propagated. Also, diploid cultures and mixtures of haploid-diploid tissues were obtained. The origin of such cultures, either somatic or gametic, was elucidated by SSR markers. All the embryos showed only one allele, corroborating a haploid origin. Allelic composition of the haploid progeny permitted parental identification among all analyzed trees.