Fertilization in Higher Plants

1. Front Matter

   Pages I-XIII

   PDF

2. Polyamines and Gene Expression of Biosynthetic Enzymes in Sexual Plant Reproduction

   • N. Bagni, A. Tassoni, M. Franceschetti

   Pages 1-11

3. Carotenoid Biosynthesis in Plant Reproductive Organs: Regulation and Possible Functions

   • G. Giuliano

   Pages 13-21

4. Lipid Accumulation and Related Gene Expression in Gametophytic and Sporophytic Anther Tissues

   • P. Piffanelli, D. J. Murphy

   Pages 23-43

5. Sex Determination or Sexual Dimorphism? On Facts and Terminology

   • A. Lardon, C. Delichère, F. Monéger, I. Negrutiu

   Pages 45-51

6. Meiosis

   • T. Schwarzacher

   Pages 53-67

7. Regulation of Gene Expression During Pollen Development

   • G. J. Wullems, J. A. M. Schrauwen

   Pages 69-78

8. Double Fertilization in Flowering Plants: Origin, Mechanisms and New Information from in vitro Fertilization

   • J.-E. Faure

   Pages 79-89

9. Molecular Approach to Female Meiosis in Petunia Hybrida

   • A. Porceddu, Ch. Moretti, S. Sorbolini, S. Guiderdone, L. Lanfaloni, F. Lorenzetti et al.

   Pages 91-99

10. Homomorphic Self-Incompatibility in Flowering Plants

    • D. de Nettancourt

    Pages 101-112

11. Cell Death of Self-Incompatible Pollen Tubes: Necrosis or Apoptosis?

    • A. Geitmann

    Pages 113-137

12. Aspects of the Cell Biology of Pollination and Wide Hybridization

    • J. S. Heslop-Harrison

    Pages 139-144

13. Pollen Coat Signals With Respect to Pistil Activation and Ovule Penetration in Gasteria Verrucosa (Mill.) H.Duval

    • M. T. M. Willemse

    Pages 145-156

14. Tapetum and Orbicules (Ubisch Bodies): Development, Morphology and Role of Pollen Grains and Tapetal Orbicules in Allergenicity

    • G. El-Ghazaly

    Pages 157-173

15. Development and Substructures of Pollen Grains Wall

    • G. El-Ghazaly

    Pages 175-200

16. Mechanisms of Microspore Polarity and Differential Cell Fate Determination in Developing Pollen

    • D. Twell

    Pages 201-215

17. Genetic Control of Pollen Development and Function

    • M. Sari-Gorla, M. E. Pè

    Pages 217-233

18. The Use of the Vibrating Probe Technique to Study Steady Extracellular Currents During Pollen Germination and Tube Growth

    • A. M. Shipley, J. A. Feijó

    Pages 235-252

19. The Role of Calcium and Associated Proteins in Tip Growth and Orientation

    • R. Malhó

    Pages 253-270

20. Measuring Ion Channel Activity During Polar Growth of Pollen Tubes

    • F. Armstrong, R. Benkert, F.-W. Bentrup, G. Obermeyer

    Pages 271-281

Biotechnological methods are opening new ways in plant breeding. They allow novel strategies for improving crop productivity and quality, especially in the agrofood sector. The molecular mechanisms underlying these biotechnological approaches are presented here. Topics included are: pollen development, pollen tube growth, macrosporogenesis and fertilization and the effects of pesticides on sexual plant reproduction.
Fertilization in higher plants is a complex process consisting of two events, the fusion of the egg with one sperm cell resulting in the diploid zygote, and the fusion of embryosac nuclei with another sperm cell, leading to a triploid endosperm. This "double fertilization" is preceded by the pollination process and a long lasting interaction between the dipoid pistil and the haploid pollen tube (progamic phase). Fertilization of flowering plants results in the formation of seeds and fruits, our basic food supply.

• Embryo
• Expression
• Meiosis
• Polle
• Rosaceae
• biotechnology
• development
• fertilization
• gene expression
• growth
• pesticides
• plant
• plant breeding
• plants
• transgen

• Dipartimento di Biologia Ambientale, Universita degli Studi di Siena, Siena, Italy

  Mauro Cresti, Giampiero Cai, Alessandra Moscatelli

Policies and ethics