Cunninghamia lanceolata (Lamb.) Hook (Chinese fir) is an important tree, commercially and ecologically, in southern China. The traditional regenerating methods are based on organogenesis and cutting propagation. Here, we report the development of a high-frequency somatic embryogenesis (SE) regeneration system synchronized via a liquid culture from immature zygotic embryos. Following synchroniza...

Nuclear factor Y (NF-Y) is a trimeric transcription factor composed of three distinct subunits called NF-YA, NF-YB and NF-YC. In Arabidopsis thaliana, NF-Y subunits are known to play roles in many processes, such as gametogenesis, embryogenesis, seed development, drought resistance, ABA signaling, flowering time, primary root elongation, Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER) stress response and blue light...

Auxin and polar auxin transport have been implicated in controlling embryo patterning and development in angiosperms but less is known from the gymnosperms. The aims of this study were to determine at what stages of conifer embryo development auxin and polar auxin transport are the most important for normal development and to analyze the changes in embryos after treatment with the polar auxin i...

Introduction: This study aims to evaluate the parameters that might have an impact on swallowing performance after a total glossectomy with laryngeal preservation (TGLP). Methods: Among 39 patients who underwent surgery with curative intent for squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue, our retrospective analysis focused on 18 patients treated by TGLP and flap reconstruction. The flap was position...

In emb (embryo specific) mutants of maize (Zea mays), the two fertilization products have opposite fates: Although the endosperm develops normally, the embryo shows more or less severe aberrations in its development, resulting in nonviable seed. We show here that in mutant emb8516, the development of mutant embryos deviates as soon as the transition stage from that of wild-type siblings. The ba...

Introduction: This study aims to evaluate the parameters that might have an impact on swallowing performance after a total glossectomy with laryngeal preservation (TGLP). Methods: Among 39 patients who underwent surgery with curative intent for squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue, our retrospective analysis focused on 18 patients treated by TGLP and flap reconstruction. The flap was position...

Embryogenesis is a crucial period in the development of eukaryotes. In most plants, embryogenesis begins with an asymmetric cell division that gives rise to a polar embryo having a larger basal cell and a smaller apical cell. The embryoproper develops from the apical cell, and the basal cell develops into the suspensor, which is attached to the ovule and serves as a conduit for nutrient transfe...

In plants, as in animals, programmed cell death (PCD) is a key process responsible for the elimination of unneeded structures and for overall shape remodeling during development [1]; however, the molecular mechanisms remain poorly understood. Despite the absence of canonical caspases in plants, dying plant cells show an increased proteolytic caspase-like activity [2]. Moreover, the cell death c...

In higher plants, most of the above-ground part ultimately derives from small populations of mitotic cells, called the shoot apical meristem (SAM). The SAM is initially formed during embryogenesis, when the basic body architecture of a plant is established (Jürgens, 1995). Once formed, the SAM plays central roles in postembryonic shoot organ formation. The SAM generates stems, leaves, and flora...