Egg Apparatus in Sexual and Apomictic Species of Taraxacum: Structural and Immunocytochemical Aspects of Synergid Cells

Abstract

The paper reports a comparative study of the female gametophyte and especially synergid structure in sexual and apomictic dandelions. We analyzed diploid sexually reproducing Taraxacum linearisquameum (2n = 2x = 16) and two triploids, T. alatum and T. udum (2n = 3x =24), with autonomous embryo and endosperm development. There were no observed differences in the organization of the mature megagametophyte between the examined species. Both meiotically reduced and diplosporous embryo sacs showed typical polarity of the egg apparatus cells, together with development of a filiform apparatus in the synergids, but immunocytochemical analyses indicated that microtubules form longitudinal brush-like bundles adjacent to the filiform apparatus in the synergids of the sexual T. linearisquameum. This arrangement of cytoskeletal elements is similar to the configuration described in other amphimictic plants. The synergids of the apomictic T. alatum and T. udum show a uncharacteristic and relatively weak cytoskeleton with no brush-like bundles. We discuss the role of synergids in autonomous apomicts.