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Selective microspore abortion correlated with aneuploidy: an indication of meiotic drive

Carol A Furness1, Paula J Rudall

  • 1Micromorphology Section, Jodrell Laboratory, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, UK. c.furness@kew.org

Sexual Plant Reproduction
|October 2, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Selective microspore abortion (monomicrospory) evolved independently twice in flowering plants, occurring in sedges and epacrids. This process correlates with aneuploidy, potentially driving rapid chromosomal mutation fixation via meiotic drive.

Area of Science:

  • Plant reproductive biology
  • Evolutionary genetics
  • Angiosperm diversification

Background:

  • Selective megaspore abortion (monomegaspory) is common in seed plants and key to heterospory.
  • Selective microspore abortion (monomicrospory) is rare, occurring independently in distantly related angiosperms.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare instances of monomicrospory in Cyperaceae and Epacridaceae.
  • To investigate the evolutionary origins and genetic consequences of monomicrospory.

Main Methods:

  • Comparative analysis of microsporogenesis in selected angiosperm families.
  • Examination of chromosome segregation patterns during meiosis.

Main Results:

  • Monomicrospory arose independently at least twice in angiosperms, notably in Cyperaceae and Epacridaceae.
  • Monomicrospory in Cyperaceae originates from normal tetrads, while Epacridaceae shows an intermediate stage with variable sterility.
  • A correlation between monomicrospory and aneuploidy was observed.

Conclusions:

  • Monomicrospory can arise through different evolutionary pathways.
  • Non-random chromosome segregation during monomicrospory may facilitate rapid fixation of chromosomal mutations via meiotic drive.

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