In Rhododendron spp. and Ledum groenlandicum a callose wall is laid down around the zygote in the first 2 days after fertilization. The periodic acid/Schiff-positive, aniline blue-fluorescence-positive callosic wall is initiated adjacent to the degenerating synergid, extends to cover the entire zygote surface, and remains visible during the initiation of embryogeny as the zygote elongates befor...

In angiosperms, a zygote generally divides into a two-celled proembryo consisting of an apical and a basal cell that possess different cell fates. This first division of the zygote is a putative step in the formation of the apical-basal axis of the proembryo. The gamete fusion activates the egg, and the gamete fusion site on the zygote has been reported to provide a possible cue for subsequent ...

UNLABELLED BACKGROUND The assessment of the embryo quality is crucial to maintain an high pregnancy rate and to reduce the risk of multiple pregnancy. The evaluation of the pronuclear and nucleolar characteristics of human zygote have been proposed as an indicator of embryo development and chromosomal complement. The aim of the current study was to assess the role of pronuclear morphology ev...

The green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii elaborates two biochemically and morphologically distinct cell walls during its life cycle: one surrounds the vegetative and gametic cell and the other encompasses the zygote. Hydroxyproline-rich glycoproteins (HRGPs) constitute a major component of both walls. We describe the isolation and characterization of a zygote-specific gene encoding a wall HRGP....

In most flowering plants, the apical-basal body axis is established by an asymmetric division of the polarized zygote. In Arabidopsis, early embryo patterning is regulated by WOX homeobox genes, which are coexpressed in the zygote but become restricted to apical (WOX2) and basal (WOX8/9) cells. How the asymmetry of zygote division is regulated and connected to the daughter cell fates is largely...

The volvocine algae represent an excellent model lineage in which to study evolution of female and male genders based on comparative analyses of related species. Among these species, Volvox carteri has been extensively studied as a model of an oogamous and complex organism. However, it may have unique derived features that are not present in other species of Volvox. Therefore, information regar...

The formation of the zygote in cotton is accompanied by marked changes in the number and aggregation of the ribosomes. The zygote is formed approximately 14 hr after pollination but does not divide for some 56-60 hr. Electron microscope studies of the zygote during this period reveal a series of changes in the size and distribution of polysomes which may provide information on this important st...

Many strategies have been proposed for the selection of viable embryos for transfer in human assisted reproduction. These have included morphological scoring criteria for 20, 28, 44 and 68 h after insemination. The embryo selection is based on morphology, degree of fragmentation and development to the 8-cell. All have shown some correlation with implantation. However, the overall success of the...