Mutation in Polycomb repressive complex 2 gene OsFIE2 promotes asexual embryo formation in rice
Xiaoba Wu1, Liqiong Xie2, Xizhe Sun3,4
1CSIRO Agriculture and Food, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia. xiaoba.wu@csiro.au.
Nature Plants
|October 9, 2023
Summary
Flowering plant reproduction relies on preventing autonomous division before fertilization. Rice mutants in Polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2) genes Osfie1 and Osfie2 show high-frequency asexual embryo and endosperm formation without fertilization.
Area of Science:
- Plant reproduction biology
- Epigenetics
- Developmental biology
Background:
- Successful reproduction in flowering plants requires preventing autonomous division of the female gametophyte before fertilization.
- Polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2) plays a crucial role in maintaining cellular states.
- Understanding the mechanisms that prevent premature cell division is vital for plant breeding and reproductive success.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of PRC2 components Osfie1 and Osfie2 in preventing asexual reproduction in rice.
- To elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying autonomous endosperm and asexual embryo formation in rice mutants.
- To determine the contribution of maternal and paternal genomes in the development of asexual structures.
Main Methods:
- Generation and analysis of rice ovules from wild-type, Osfie1, Osfie2, and Osfie1/Osfie2 double mutants.
- Phenotypic characterization of asexual embryo and autonomous endosperm formation.
- Transcriptomic analysis of asexual embryos and autonomous endosperm to identify activated genes.
- Comparative analysis of gene expression in single and double mutants.
Main Results:
- Rice ovules of Osfie1 and Osfie2 double mutants exhibited high-frequency asexual embryo and autonomous endosperm formation without fertilization.
- Single Osfie2 mutants showed asexual pre-embryo-like structures at a lower frequency.
- Transcriptomic analysis revealed activation of male genome-expressed genes (OsBBM1, OsWOX8/9) in asexual embryos.
- Maternal alleles of paternally expressed imprinted genes were activated in the autonomous endosperm.
Conclusions:
- The egg apparatus and central cell utilize PRC2 to maintain a non-dividing state before fertilization.
- PRC2 likely silences maternal alleles of male genome-expressed genes to prevent autonomous development.
- Autonomous endosperm formation facilitates asexual embryo development in rice gametes.
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