In bryophytes (lower plants), sex determination is manifested in the gametophyte generation by the production of egg- and sperm-forming gametangia. We identified four genes specifically expressed in the male thalli of dioecious liverwort Pellia endiviifolia species B using RDA-cDNA method. These are: PenB_TUA1 coding for an α-tubulin family protein, PenB_Raba1/11 coding for a Rab family protein...

Male gametophyte development in higher plants is a complex process that requires the coordinated participation of various cell and tissue types and their associated specific gene expression patterns. The male gametophytic life cycle can be divided into a developmental phase leading to the formation of mature pollen grains, and a functional or progamic phase, beginning with the impact of the gra...

The female gametophyte is an important participant in the sexual reproduction of plants. The molecular mechanism of its development has received much attention in recent years. As important regulators of gene expression, miRNAs have been certified to play a significant role in many biological processes of plants, including sexual reproduction. In this study, to investigate the potential regulat...

Plant germ cells develop in specialized haploid structures, termed gametophytes. The female gametophyte patterns of flowering plants are diverse, with often unknown adaptive value. Here we present the Arabidopsis fiona mutant, which forms a female gametophyte that is structurally and functionally reminiscent of a phylogenetic distant female gametophyte. The respective changes include a modified...