Development and function of the flowering plant female gametophyte

Flowering plants constitute an indispensable basis for the existence of most organisms, including humans. In a world characterized by rapid population growth and climate changes, understanding plant reproduction becomes increasingly important in order to respond to the resource shortage associated with this development. New technologies enabling powerful forward genetic approaches, comprehensive genome and transcriptome analyses, and sophisticated cell isolation and imaging have advanced our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying gamete formation and fertilization. In addition, these techniques have allowed us to explore the fascinating cellular crosstalk, which coordinates the intra- and interorganismic interactions that secure reproductive success. Here we review the basic principles underlying development of the germ cell-harboring female gametophyte in flowering plants. We start with the selection of the founder cells and end with the formation of a few-celled, highly specialized structure that operates on the basis of division of labor in order to generate the next generation.