Plant Reproductive Biology

Annexin 5 is a key player in orchestrating the pollen sequestrome

This study identifies annexin 5 as a key regulator of RNA reservoir formation in Arabidopsis pollen by modulating ribosome biogenesis and RNA availability.

Phenotypic and genomic changes associated with the evolutionary loss of heterostyly in primroses

The paper investigates the genetic and phenotypic changes associated with the loss of heterostyly in Primula boveana, revealing a disrupted CYP gene and developmental shifts leading to autonomous selfing.

Evolutionary signatures of self-incompatibility genes in grasses: high diversity, trans-generic polymorphism and co-evolution

The paper analyzes SI genes in grasses, finding high allelic diversity, trans-generic polymorphism, and co-evolution of recognition genes.

Domesticated pennycress is a predominantly self-pollinated crop

This study evaluates pollen viability and outcrossing potential in domesticated pennycress, finding that it is predominantly self-pollinated with rare outcrossing under greenhouse and field conditions.

Heat stress reveals divergent pollen viability responses across species and populations of monkeyflower

This study examines how heat stress affects pollen viability in two monkeyflower species and their populations, finding variation in heat sensitivity across species and populations but not elevational categories.

HDA6-mediated histone deacetylation restricts premature tapetal PCD to maintain male fertility during early flowering in Arabidopsis

This study shows HDA6-mediated histone deacetylation delays tapetal programmed cell death in Arabidopsis, ensuring male fertility during early flowering.

Stigmatic papilla cells recover nonself pollen acceptance after self-pollen recognition

The paper shows that self-pollen recognition in Arabidopsis temporarily delays nonself pollen hydration and germination in papilla cells, with actin reorganization playing a role.

Temperature dependence of pollen germination in Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii): A machine learning-based detection of pollen viability from microscopic images

The paper uses deep learning to analyze pollen germination from images and finds temperature-dependent germination and elongation with narrow optimal ranges.

The dandelion PARTHENOGENESIS gene dominantly modifies Arabidopsis fertilization and embryogenesis

This study shows that the ToPAR gene can induce egg cell division and alter embryo development in Arabidopsis, suggesting it can trigger parthenogenesis without gamete-specific factors.

The RAP2.12 and RAP2.3 factors act downstream of LRR-MAL Receptor Kinases in Arabidopsis pollen-stigma interactions.

This study identifies RAP2.12 and RAP2.3 as downstream factors of LRR-MAL receptor kinases in Arabidopsis pollen-stigma interactions, showing their role in callose plug formation during pollen tube growth.

FERONIA and ANJEA do not have a conserved role in self-incompatible Arabidopsis for self-pollen rejection.

This study shows that FER and ANJ are not required for self-incompatible Arabidopsis pollen rejection, suggesting divergence in downstream signaling pathways.

Physical interactions between pollen and pistil tissues mediate cryptic female choice in Brassica rapa

Brassica rapa pollen tube length after growing through recipient pistil tissue is donor-by-recipient specific, predicts siring success under competition, and matters more in longer-styled recipients.

Genotyping the self-incompatibility locus of wild and cultivated Brassica using NGS technologies: application to the evaluation of mate limitation in the endangered species Brassica insularis

The paper genotypes the self-incompatibility locus in Brassica insularis using NGS methods, identifying S-alleles and showing low compatibility in a small population.

Experimental evidence for female choice in an angiosperm

The paper provides the first empirical test of cryptic female choice in an angiosperm, showing that pistil traits influence paternal fertilization success based on pollen donor traits.

Breakdown of sporophytic self-incompatibility: Diploids versus tetraploids

The paper investigates whether sporophytic self-incompatibility breaks down more easily in tetraploid compared to diploid populations, finding that dominance relationships significantly influence this outcome.

SWI3b restricts AGO5 expression to promote the initiation of megagametogenesis in Arabidopsis

This study shows SWI3b promotes megagametogenesis by repressing AGO5 expression through chromatin remodeling and histone acetylation regulation in Arabidopsis.

Comparative reproductive biology and impacts of selfing in two epiphytic Bromeliaceae

The paper compares selfing impacts in two bromeliad species, finding self-compatibility and varying reproductive outcomes between self- and cross-pollination.

EC1 body controls sperm cell reception via gamete pit formation.

The paper identifies EC1 bodies as structures that form a gamete pit to guide sperm cell delivery in flowering plants, revealing their role in fertilization.

Imaging Double Fertilization in Maize

This paper describes a method for high-resolution imaging of double fertilization in maize by optimizing fixation, clearing, and confocal imaging of embryo sacs.

Nucleoporin1 maintains male germ unit organization and transport in Arabidopsis pollen tubes, likely through shaping nuclear morphology

This study identifies NUP1 as essential for maintaining male germ unit organization and transport in Arabidopsis pollen tubes by shaping nuclear morphology.

From recognition to neglect: Molecular and physiological responses to heterospecific pollen decay with evolutionary distance

The paper investigates how molecular and physiological responses to heterospecific pollen decay with evolutionary distance in flowering plants, finding a graded decline in pistillar transcriptomic response and pollen tube growth rates.

Heat-Triggered Dormancy Release in Low-ROS Pollen Grains Reveals a Conserved Reproductive Reserve

The paper shows heat stress activates dormant low-ROS pollen, revealing a conserved reproductive reserve mechanism in plants.

RbohF-mediated ROS production is required for tapetal PCD and pollen maturation in rice

This study shows that RbohF-mediated ROS production is essential for tapetal programmed cell death and pollen maturation in rice, with defects in anther development and fertility observed in knockout mutants.

Calcium Dynamics During Pollen Tube Reception in Arabidopsis Ovules

The paper investigates calcium dynamics in Arabidopsis ovules during pollen tube reception, showing N-linked glycosylation is required for synergid cell calcium oscillations but not pollen tube reception itself.

Programmable DNA nanocages to modulate pollen tube growth via active uptake

This paper demonstrates DNA nanocages (TDNs) for targeted delivery of biomolecules into Arabidopsis pollen tubes, modulating growth through actin reorganization and ROS modulation.

A phospholipid-dependent PDK1-AGC kinase cascade regulates pollen tube growth

This study identifies a phospholipid-dependent PDK1-AGC kinase cascade that regulates pollen tube growth polarity in Arabidopsis.

Ca2+ oscillations promote microtubule-band turnover and support tip growth in Arabidopsis zygotes

This study shows Ca2+ oscillations drive microtubule-band turnover and support tip growth in Arabidopsis zygotes through a feedback loop, distinct from actin-based tip growth mechanisms.

Unravelling the processes controlling pollen formation and functions with cross-species comparative analysis

This study identifies conserved and lineage-specific genes in pollen and anther development using cross-species RNA-seq analysis and experimental validation.

BABYBOOM-like expression in the cowpea egg and central cellenables parthenogenesis, endosperm development, and viable haploid seed formation

The paper shows that expressing VuBBML1 in both egg and central cells of cowpea, along with central cell fertilization, enables parthenogenesis and viable haploid seed formation.

Extracellular calcium modulates pollen tube growth and guidance in Arabidopsis thaliana

This study shows extracellular calcium affects pollen tube growth and guidance in Arabidopsis by modulating intracellular calcium levels and directional growth.