Lethals can be estimated from doubled haploid Larix decidua female gametophytes
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.21750/REFOR.19.03.124Keywords:
inbred lines, inbreeding depression, larch, embryo lethals, dihaploids, doubled female gametophytes, deleterious allelesAbstract
We present a novel way of estimating embryo lethals using doubled haploid (dihaploid or DH) female gametophytes grown in tissue culture. This DH-based lethals estimate is hypothesized to be lower than the more common method where lethals are estimated from one generation of selfing. The chief reasoning is the early mortality spike observed for selfed embryos of larch and other genera in the Pinaceae. This early mortality spike occurs at the stage when diploid embryos embed into haploid female gametophyte tissue. However, this stage is missing for DH embryos which grow in a petri dish thus the DH lethals estimate is hypothesized to be lower compared to seed counts.
This DH estimate is based on 20,000 haploid female gametophytes cultures from which two surviving diploidized embryos were recovered. Lethals based on diploidized haploids (DH) have not been reported for a conifer previously because, aside from larch, only a few conifer species continue female gametophyte development in absence of pollen.
Our chief finding is that, contrary to our hypothesis, the DH-based lethals estimate was similar to lethals estimated obtained from selfed seeds in published studies. Thus doubling haploid female gametophytes can be used to estimate embryo lethals when diploidization is conducted on a massive scale.
Downloads
References
von Aderkas P, Bonga JM (1993) Plants from haploid tissue culture of Larix decidua. Theor Appl Genet 87: 225-228. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00223768 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00223768
von Aderkas P, Williams CG (2025) Gametophytic apomixis in a gymnosperm, Larix decidua Mill., results in normal male. Reforesta 19:50-58. https://dx.doi.org/10.21750/REFOR.19.05.126
Bonga JM, von Aderkas P, James D (1988) Potential application of haploid cultures of tree species. In Genetic Manipulation of Woody Plants (JW Hanover, DE Kathley eds). Plenum New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-1661-9_4 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-1661-9_4
Brandvain Y, Harkness A, Pyhajarvi T (2023) Reproductive compensation and selection among viable embryos drive evolution of polyembryony. Am Nat 201(5): 694-711. doi: 10.1086/723454. https://doi.org/10.1086/723454 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1086/723454
Brandvain Y, Thomson L, Pylejarvi T (2024) Early-acting inbreeding depression can evolve as an inbreeding avoidance mechanism. Proc R Soc B 291: 20232467. https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2023.2467 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2023.2467
Chowdhury CR (1962) The embryology of conifers - a review. Phytomorphology 12: 313-338. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-1770.1962.tb01268.x DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-1770.1962.tb01268.x
Haig D, Wilczek A (2006) Sexual conflict and the alternation of haploid and diploid generations. Philos Trans Biol Sci 36 (1466): 335-343. https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2005.1794 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2005.1794
Kosinski G (1982) Genetic load in empty seeds of European larch (Larix decidua Mill.). Arboretum Kornickie, Rocznik Poland XXVI: 231-236.
Kosinski G (1987) Empty seed production in European larch (Larix decidua Mill.) Forest Ecol Manage 19: 241-246. https://doi.org/10.1016/0378-1127(87)90033-8 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/0378-1127(87)90033-8
Nagmani R, Bonga JM (1985) Embryogenesis in sub-cultured callus of Larix decidua. Can J Forest Res 15: 1088-1091. https://doi.org/10.1139/x85-177 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1139/x85-177
Owens, J.N. and Blake, MD (1985) Forest tree seed production. Information Report-Petawawa National Forestry Institute. Canadian Forestry Service. PI-X-53.
Owens JN, Molder M (1979) Sexual reproduction of Larix occidentalis. Can J Bot 57: 2673-2690. https://doi.org/10.1139/b79-317 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1139/b79-317
Park YS, Fowler DP (1982) Effects of inbreeding and genetic variances in a natural population of tamarack (Larix laricina (Du Roi) K Koch) in eastern Canada. Silv Genet 31(1):21-26.
Pattanavibool R, von Aderkas P, Hanhijarvi A, Simola LK, Bonga JM (1995) Diploidization in megagametophyte-derived cultures of the gymnosperm Larix decidua. Theor Appl Genet 90: 671-674. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00222132 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00222132
Simola LK, Santanen A (1990) Improvement of nutrient medium for growth and embryogenesis of megagametophyte and embryo callus lines of Picea abies. Physiol Plantarum 80: 27-35. https://doi.org/10.1034/j.1399-3054.1990.800105.x DOI: https://doi.org/10.1034/j.1399-3054.1990.800105.x
Singh H (1978) Embryology of gymnosperms. Gebrüder Borntraeger, Berlin. 302 p.
Slobodnik B, Guttenberger H (2005) Zygotic embryogenesis and empty seed formation in European larch (L. decidua Mill.). Ann Forest Sci 62: 129-134. https://doi.org/10.1051/forest:2005004 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1051/forest:2005004
Snedecor GW, Cochran WG (1978) Statistical methods. Iowa State University Press, 6th ed. Ames, IA. 593 p.
Sorensen F (1969) Embryonic lethals in Douglas-fir, Pseudotsuga menziesii. Am Nat 103: 389-398.
https://doi.org/10.1086/282609 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1086/282609
Stebbins GL (1950) Variation and evolution in plants. Columbia Univ NY 643 p. https://doi.org/10.7312/steb94536 DOI: https://doi.org/10.7312/steb94536
Williams CG, Savolainen O (1996) Inbreeding depression in conifers. Forest Sci 42(1): 102-117. https://doi.org/10.1093/forestscience/42.1.102 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/forestscience/42.1.102
Williams CG, Barnes RB, Nyoka I (1999) Embryonic lethal load for a neotropical conifer, Pinus patula Schiede and Deppe. J Hered 90(3): 394-398. https://doi.org/10.1093/jhered/90.3.394 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/jhered/90.3.394
Williams CG (2008) Selfed embryo death in Pinus taeda: a phenotypic profile. New Phytol 178: 210-222. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-8137.2007.02359.x DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-8137.2007.02359.x
Williams CG (2007) Re-thinking the embryo lethal system within the Pinaceae. Can J Bot 85 (7): 667-677. https://doi.org/10.1139/B07-056 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1139/B07-056
Williams CG, Zhou Y, Hall SE (2001) A chromosomal region promoting outcrossing in a conifer. Genetics 159: 1283-12. https://doi.org/10.1093/genetics/159.3.1283 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/genetics/159.3.1283
Williams CG, Auckland LD, Reynolds MM, Leach KA (2003) Overdominant lethals as part of the conifer embryo lethal system. Heredity 91: 584-592. https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.hdy.6800354 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.hdy.6800354
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:
- Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License CCBY that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (See The Effect of Open Access).
How to Cite
