Presenter: Marianne Maughan
Authors: Marianne Maughan
Faculty Advisor: John Carman
Institution: Utah State University
Apomixis is the formation of unreduced and parthenogenetically active gametes or gamete like cells. In many eukaryotes, this involves the formation of unreduced gametophytes, which then produce unreduced eggs. In angiosperms, the gametophyte is commonly referred to as the embryo sac, and it is retained and nourished during its development within the ovule of the mother plant. In sexual angiosperms, the embryo sac forms directly from one of four genetically reduced products of meiosis, i.e. from the surviving megaspore. In apomictic plants, unreduced embryo sacs form from unreduced megaspore mother cells (where meiosis has aborted) or from adjoining unreduced nucellar cells of the ovule wall (referred to as apomeiosis). In previous studies, our lab identified metabolic pathways that when modified induce apomeiosis in sexual plants. Here, we have extended this developmental induction phenomenon to maize. In my presentation, I detail cytologically the morphological changes that occur following the chemical induction of unreduced embryo sac formation in immature ovules of maize. I will also detail the potential use for this new research in the agriculture community in increasing food security.