Abstract Detail

Developmental and Structural Section

Butler, Alice [1], Jordon-Thaden, Ingrid [2], MARTINE , CHRISTOPHER T [3].

Differential development of ovules versus pollen relative to gynoecial and androecial maturation in functionally dioecious Solanum.

Solanum sejunctum and Solanum asymmetriphyllum (Solanaceae) are functionally dioecious species native to Australia that develop male flowers and morphologically hermaphroditic flowers on separate plants. The hermaphroditic flowers fully develop both the gynoecium and the androecium, but produce nonfunctional inaperaturate pollen, rendering them functionally pistillate. Additionally, the “staminate” flowers produce a vestigial gynoecium producing ovules that are nonfunctional, and usually not able to produce seed and fruit. The present study investigates the early development of ovules and pollen of these distinct forms of flowers in greenhouse grown individuals of S. sejunctum and S. asymmetriphyllum. The plant material was grown from wild collected seed in a climate-controlled greenhouse with 14-hour day length and climate factors set to simulate conditions in the Australian habitat. Inflorescences of functionally staminate flowers and individual functionally pistillate flowers at each stage of early development through to anthesis (pollen shedding) were collected and fixed in FAA for dissection and microscopy. The tissues were cleared with Herr’s solution and then observed with confocal microscopy with DIC optics to track ovule (megagametophyte) and pollen (microgametophyte) development. Using this method, we tracked the parallel development of gametophytes in each floral morph relative to floral organ development. Our goal is to determine at what point in both the mega- and microgametophyte development does the organ architecture lose its ability to become a functionally perfect flower. 

1 - Bucknell University, 203 Biology Building, 1 Dent Drive, Lewisburg, PA, 17837, USA
2 - Bucknell University, Biology, 1 Dent Drive, Lewisburg, PA, 17837, USA
3 - Bucknell University, Biological Sciences, 203 Biology Building, Lewisburg, PA, 17837, USA

Keywords:
Solanum
floral development
Pollen development
ovule development
dioecy.

Presentation Type: Poster:Posters for Sections
Session: P
Location: Eyrie/Boise Centre
Date: Monday, July 28th, 2014
Time: 5:30 PM
Number: PDS006
Abstract ID:376
Candidate for Awards:Developmental and Structural Section best poster