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Hormonal and morphological changes during seed development of Cypripedium japonicum

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Abstract

With the goal of evaluating the factors that may be influencing the reproductive success of an endangered, terrestrial orchid Cypripedium japonicum Thunb., the anatomical and morphological characteristics of seed development were assessed, as were the levels of endogenous hormones to investigate the possible relationship between hormones and seed development. The results showed that morphological characteristics of seeds were changing from milky white and filiform to brown and fusiform. The development of ovule that initiated on the fertile valves only began after pollination, and a mature embryo sac was produced at 40 days after pollination (DAP). Fertilization occurred 50 to 60 DAP, and the newly formed zygote divided into two unequal cells that became the embryo proper and the suspensor. Seeds reached maturity at about 115 DAP, at which point they consisted only of a globular embryo and two layers of seed coat, without endosperm. The suspensor was lost, and only lipid particles and a large number of starch grains distributed in the cytoplasm. The peak of gibberellic acid (GA3), zeatin riboside (ZR), and indole acetic acid (IAA) occurred in a time sequence, as 20, 30, and 40 DAP. There was a highly significant positive correlation among them (P < 0.01). Abscisic acid (ABA) content increased at 60 DAP and reached the maximum at 115 DAP. ABA contents were significantly negatively correlated with the three hormones above (P < 0.05). It indicated that the lack of endosperm and suspensor tissues, delayed differentiation of embryos, and high levels of ABA may lead to the difficulty of germination.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Xiaoling Niu of Tianmu Mountain National Nature Reserve and Prof. Nianhang Rong of Zhejiang University for their help with these experiments. This work was supported by the National Science Foundation of China (grant number: 31370553) and the Key Science and Technology Specific Projects of Zhejiang Province (No. 2016C02056-13-2).

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  1. Chinese Academy of Forestry, Research Institute of Subtropical Forestry, 73 Daqiao Road, Fuyang, Zhejiang, 311400, China

    Xiaona Yan, Min Tian, Fen Liu, Caixia Wang & Ying Zhang

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  1. Xiaona Yan
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  2. Min Tian
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  3. Fen Liu
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  4. Caixia Wang
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  5. Ying Zhang
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Correspondence to Min Tian.

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The manuscript will not be submitted elsewhere in any language. The manuscript has been approved for publication by all authors. In behalf of the co-authors, Xiaona Yan, the first author, declares that the work described was an original research that had not been published previously and not under consideration for publication elsewhere, in whole or in part.

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Yan, X., Tian, M., Liu, F. et al. Hormonal and morphological changes during seed development of Cypripedium japonicum . Protoplasma 254, 2315–2322 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00709-017-1128-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00709-017-1128-6

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