Expressed sequence-tag analysis of ovaries of Brachiaria brizantha reveals genes associated with the early steps of embryo sac differentiation of apomictic plants.

In apomixis, asexual mode of plant reproduction through seeds, an unreduced megagametophyte is formed due to circumvented or altered meiosis. The embryo develops autonomously from the unreduced egg cell, independently of fertilization. Brachiaria is a genus of tropical forage grasses that reproduces sexually or by apomixis. A limited number of studies have reported the sequencing of apomixis-related genes and a few Brachiaria sequences have been deposited at genebank databases. This work shows sequencing and expression analyses of expressed sequence-tags (ESTs) of Brachiaria genus and points to transcripts from ovaries with preferential expression at megasporogenesis in apomictic plants. From the 11 differentially expressed sequences from immature ovaries of sexual and apomictic Brachiaria brizantha obtained from macroarray analysis, 9 were preferentially detected in ovaries of apomicts, as confirmed by RT-qPCR. A putative involvement in early steps of Panicum-type embryo sac differentiation of four sequences from B. brizantha ovaries: BbrizHelic, BbrizRan, BbrizSec13 and BbrizSti1 is suggested. Two of these, BbrizSti1 and BbrizHelic, with similarity to a gene coding to stress induced protein and a helicase, respectively, are preferentially expressed in the early stages of apomictic ovaries development, especially in the nucellus, in a stage previous to the differentiation of aposporous initials, as verified by in situ hybridization.

Chromosome number and microsporogenesis of two accessions of Brachiaria dura Stapf (Poaceae) / Número de cromossomos e microsporogênese de dois acessos de Brachiaria dura Stapf (Poaceae)

The two accessions of B. dura analyzed (DU01 and DU02) are hexaploid (2n = 6x = 54), derived from x = 9. Meiotic abnormalities, such as precocious chromosome migration to the poles, laggards and micronuclei, were recorded in low frequency in both accessions. The few multivalent chromosome association at diakinesis and meiotic stability suggested that hexaploidy probably resulted from chromosome doubling. In DU02, chromosome transfer (cytomixis) among meiocytes, involving part or the entire genome was observed. The implication of these findings for the Brachiaria breeding is discussed.

Os dois acessos de B. dura analisados (DU01 e DU02) são hexaplóides (2n = 6x = 54), derivados de x = 9. Anormalidades meióticas como migração precoce de cromossomos para os polos, cromossomos retardatários e micronúcleos foram observados em baixa frequência em ambos os acessos. A presença de poucas associações cromossômicas em diacinese e a estabilidade meiótica sugere que a hexaploidia provavelmente resultou de duplicação cromossômica. No acesso DU02 observou-se transferência de cromossomos (citomixia) entre meiócitos, envolvendo parte ou todo o genoma. As implicações destes resultados para o melhoramento de Brachiaria são discutidas.

Symmetric pollen mitosis I and suppression of pollen mitosis II prevent pollen development in Brachiaria jubata (Gramineae).

Microsporogenesis and pollen development were analyzed in a tetraploid (2n = 4x = 36) accession of the forage grass Brachiaria jubata (BRA 007820) from the Embrapa Beef Cattle Brachiaria collection that showed partial male sterility. Microsporocytes and pollen grains were prepared by squashing and staining with 0.5% propionic carmine. The meiotic process was typical of polyploids, with precocious chromosome migration to the poles and laggards in both meiosis I and II, resulting in tetrads with micronuclei in some microspores. After callose dissolution, microspores were released into the anther locule and appeared to be normal. Although each microspore initiated its differentiation into a pollen grain, in 11.1% of them nucleus polarization was not observed, i.e., pollen mitosis I was symmetric and the typical hemispherical cell plate was not detected. After a central cytokinesis, two equal-sized cells showing equal chromatin condensation and the same nuclear shape and size were formed. Generative cells and vegetative cells could not be distinguished. These cells did not undergo the second pollen mitosis and after completion of pollen wall synthesis each gave rise to a sterile and uninucleate pollen grain. The frequency of abnormal pollen mitosis varied among flowers and also among inflorescences. All plants were equally affected. The absence of fertile sperm cells in a considerable amount of pollen grains in this accession of B. jubata may compromise its use in breeding and could explain, at least in part, why seed production is low when compared with the amount of flowers per raceme.

Symmetric pollen mitosis I and suppression of pollen mitosis II prevent pollen development in Brachiaria jubata (Gramineae)

Microsporogenesis and pollen development were analyzed in a tetraploid (2n = 4x = 36) accession of the forage grass Brachiaria jubata (BRA 007820) from the Embrapa Beef Cattle Brachiaria collection that showed partial male sterility. Microsporocytes and pollen grains were prepared by squashing and staining with 0.5 percent propionic carmine. The meiotic process was typical of polyploids, with precocious chromosome migration to the poles and laggards in both meiosis I and II, resulting in tetrads with micronuclei in some microspores. After callose dissolution, microspores were released into the anther locule and appeared to be normal. Although each microspore initiated its differentiation into a pollen grain, in 11.1 percent of them nucleus polarization was not observed, i.e., pollen mitosis I was symmetric and the typical hemispherical cell plate was not detected. After a central cytokinesis, two equal-sized cells showing equal chromatin condensation and the same nuclear shape and size were formed. Generative cells and vegetative cells could not be distinguished. These cells did not undergo the second pollen mitosis and after completion of pollen wall synthesis each gave rise to a sterile and uninucleate pollen grain. The frequency of abnormal pollen mitosis varied among flowers and also among inflorescences. All plants were equally affected. The absence of fertile sperm cells in a considerable amount of pollen grains in this accession of B. jubata may compromise its use in breeding and could explain, at least in part, why seed production is low when compared with the amount of flowers per raceme.

Unusual cytological patterns of microsporogenesis in Brachiaria decumbens: abnormalities in spindle and defective cytokinesis causing precocious cellularization.

Cytogenetic studies carried out in the tetraploid accession BRA001068 of Brachiaria decumbens, also known as cv. Basilisk, revealed an unusual pattern of microsporogenesis. The spindle in metaphase I and anaphase I became heavily stained with propionic carmine. In telophase I, the interzonal microtubules continued to be intensely stained, and during the phragmoplast formation the fibers were pushed to the cell wall, persisting until prophase II, even after cytokinesis. Due to its tetraploid condition, the accession presented many cells with precocious chromosome migration to the poles in metaphase I and laggards in anaphase I that gave rise to micronuclei in telophase I. While in other polyploid accessions of Brachiaria micronuclei remained in this condition until the second cytokinesis, the micronuclei in this accession organized their own spindle in the second division. In several microsporocytes, the micronuclei with their minispindle were divided further into microcytes by additional cytokinesis. Some curious planes of cytokinesis were found in some cells, with partitioning of cytoplasm into cells of irregular shape. The result consisted of a high frequency of abnormal products of meiosis. Quadrivalents were observed in diakinesis at low frequency, which suggests a segmental allotetraploid and the inability of both genomes to co-ordinate their activities, leading to multiple spindle and precocious cellularization. In spite of abnormal meiotic products reducing pollen fertility, seed production was normal. Enough normal pollen was available to fertilize the central-cell nucleus of the embryo sac and produce normal endosperm in this pseudogamous aposporous apomictic accession.