Defective pollen tube tip growth induces neo-polyploid infertility


Date

2024-03-01

Publication Type

Journal Article

ETH Bibliography

yes

Citations

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Data

Abstract

Genome duplication (generating polyploids) is an engine of novelty in eukaryotic evolution and a promising crop improvement tool. Yet newly formed polyploids often have low fertility. Here we report that a severe fertility-compromising defect in pollen tube tip growth arises in new polyploids of Arabidopsis arenosa. Pollen tubes of newly polyploid A. arenosa grow slowly, have aberrant anatomy and disrupted physiology, often burst prematurely, and have altered gene expression. These phenotypes recover in evolved polyploids. We also show that gametophytic (pollen tube) genotypes of two tip-growth genes under selection in natural tetraploid A. arenosa are strongly associated with pollen tube performance in the tetraploid. Our work establishes pollen tube tip growth as an important fertility challenge for neo-polyploid plants and provides insights into a naturally evolved multigenic solution.

Publication status

published

Editor

Book title

Journal / series

Volume

383 (6686)

Pages / Article No.

Publisher

AAAS

Event

Edition / version

Methods

Software

Geographic location

Date collected

Date created

Subject

Organisational unit

09665 - Bomblies, Kirsten / Bomblies, Kirsten check_circle

Notes

Funding

192671 - Temperature and its links to recombination rate in Arabidopsis arenosa (SNF)
217182 - Polyploidy-associated Chromatin organisation in Somatic and Meiotic tissues (PolyChromoSoMe) (SNF)
101029732 - Promoting Synthetic Polyploid Engineering Commencing Technology (EC)

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