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    STUDIA BIOLOGIA - Issue no. 1 / 2013  
         
  Article:   POSTER ABSTRACTS : “GLOBALIZATION” IN THE SEXUAL REPRODUCTION OF CEREALS: WIDER CHOICE, BETTER HYBRIDS.

Authors:  DÁVID POLGÁRI, KATALIN JÄGER, BEÁTA BARNABÁS, LÁSZLÓ SÁGI.
 
       
         
  Abstract:  VIEW PDF: POSTER ABSTRACTS

Ultrawide hybridization (UWH), i.e. non-GM trait transfer by sexual crossing between distant species or genera, has long been applied to introduce novel genes into crop plants. Major hurdles prohibiting more widespread and routine use of UWH are the low frequency and viability of hybrid embryos, which makes embryo rescue and nursing plants by tissue culture compulsory steps in the process. Beyond its agronomical importance UWH, however, offers a fascinating model to study early phases of reproductive development. Here we asked whether low success rates of UWH in cereals are caused by a low frequency of fertilization (including egg activation and pollen tube formation) and/or by incomplete or blocked endosperm development. By using an optimized wheat (♀) x barley (♂) hybridization system and via a comprehensive microscopical study we have found that pollen tube formation and fertilization can successfully be accomplished. Endosperm development, however, was essentially blocked at or before the onset of the cellular phase, which can cause early embryo abortion. Via suppressing this endosperm block we were able to produce normal, endosperm-containing wheat-barley hybrids. As a result, harvested hybrid seeds germinated readily without the aid of tissue culture. The majority of these plants contained the full, 7-chromosome complement of barley. Acknowledgements. This work has been supported by the Hungarian Scientific Research Fund (OTKA grant No. 101786).
 
         
     
         
         
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