Genetic Control of Male Fertility in Higher Plants

Abstract

Male development in higher plants is a complex process which requires the correct spatial and temporal expression of a large number of male fertility genes. They include the genes required for the structure of the male organs, as well as genes required for male gamete development. Male-sterile mutants, impaired in male fertility functions, have helped to identify a number of these genes in various plant species including Arabidopsis thaliana, the model crucifer. In A. thaliana, once these genes are mapped, they can be cloned by chromosome walking. Alternative strategies of cloning will be facilitated by the isolation of similar mutants by tagging with transposable elements, T-DNA, or by mutagen-induced deletion. Once the genes required for male fertility are cloned and their wild type function identified, an understanding of the molecular basis of male fertility is likely to result. The combination of genetic dissection and the modern techniques of genome manipulation have made such a goal feasible.

Characterization and genetic mapping of a mutation (ms35) which prevents anther dehiscence in Arabidopsis thaliana by affecting secondary wall thickening in the endothecium

“…Such mutants have been obtained in many species of higher plants (Kaul, 1988 ;Goldberg et al, 1993). In the selfpollinating species Arabidopsis thaliana, many ms mutants have been generated by chemical and irradiation mutagenesis (Van der Veen & Wirtz, 1968 ;Regan & Moffatt, 1990 ;Chaudhury et al, 1992Chaudhury et al, , 1994Dawson et al, 1993 ;Preuss et al, 1993), by T-DNA insertional mutagenesis (Feldmann et al, 1994 ;Glover et al, 1996 ;Park et al, 1996) and transposon mutagenesis .…”

Anther development: basic principles and practical applications.

“…Although most male sterility genes and their wild-type alleles have not been cloned and studied (Aarts et al, 1993), phenotypic and histological analyses suggest that some male sterility mutations affect the differentiation and/or function of many anther cell types, including those in the stomium, tapetum, endothecium, and the archesporial and sporogenous layers of the anther primordium (Kaul, 1988;Chaudhury, 1993, this issue). Arabidopsis malesterile mutants are easy to identify because they flower for a longer time period, grow taller, and remain in a green or nonsenesced state longer than their male-fertile, wild-type counterparts (Feldmann, 1991;Chaudhury et al, 1992;Forsthoefel et al, 1992;Aarts et al, 1993;Preuss et al, 1993). Because large numbers of mutagenized plants can be screened readily (Feldmann, 1991;Chaudhury et al, 1992;Forsthoefel et al, 1992), genetic studies in Arabidopsis have the potential to dissect gene pathways that control both the histodifferentiation program (phase 1) and the dehiscence and cell degeneration program (phase 2) of anther development (Figure 1).…”

“…Arabidopsis malesterile mutants are easy to identify because they flower for a longer time period, grow taller, and remain in a green or nonsenesced state longer than their male-fertile, wild-type counterparts (Feldmann, 1991;Chaudhury et al, 1992;Forsthoefel et al, 1992;Aarts et al, 1993;Preuss et al, 1993). Because large numbers of mutagenized plants can be screened readily (Feldmann, 1991;Chaudhury et al, 1992;Forsthoefel et al, 1992), genetic studies in Arabidopsis have the potential to dissect gene pathways that control both the histodifferentiation program (phase 1) and the dehiscence and cell degeneration program (phase 2) of anther development (Figure 1).…”

“…During the past few years, there has been an explosive burst of interest in anther biology, both as a system to dissect plant developmental processes at the molecular and genetic levels (Koltunow et al, 1990;Gasser, 1991;McCormick, To whom correspondence should be addressed. 1991; Scott et al, 1991;Chaudhury et al, 1992;Dawe and Freeling, 1992;Spena et al, 1992;van der Meer et al, 1992;Worrall et al, 1992;Aarts et al, 1993;Preuss et al, 1993) and for practical genetic engineering studies to improve crop plants (Mariani et al, 1990(Mariani et al, , 1992Denis et al, 1993;Schmülling et al, 1993). In this review, we outline the major events that occur during anther development, using our studies of the tobacco anther as a focal point (Koltunow et al, 1990).…”

Genetic control of male fertility in Arabidopsis thaliana : structural analyses of postmeiotic developmental mutants

“…A number of male-sterile (ms) mutants defective in various stages of microspore development have been isolated from angiosperms including Arabidopsis (Van der Veen and Wirtz 1968; Regan and Moatt 1990; Chaudhury et al 1992; Dawson et al 1993;Goldberg et al 1993;Preuss et al 1993;Chaudhury et al 1994;HuÈ lskamp et al 1995;He et al 1996;Peirson et al 1996). Previously, we described the phenotype of four non-allelic ms mutants that impair either meiotic or premeiotic events.…”