Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Preface
- Abbreviations
- List of cDNA clones, genes, protein products, and mutants
- 1 Reproductive biology of angiosperms: retrospect and prospect
- SECTION I GAMETOGENESIS
- SECTION II POLLINATION AND FERTILIZATION
- SECTION III ZYGOTIC EMBRYOGENESIS
- 12 Developmental biology of the endosperm
- 13 Embryogenesis and physiology of growth of embryos
- 14 Genetic and molecular analysis of embryogenesis
- 15 Storage protein synthesis in developing embryos
- SECTION IV ADVENTIVE EMBRYOGENESIS
- SECTION V APPLICATIONS
- References
- Index
14 - Genetic and molecular analysis of embryogenesis
from SECTION III - ZYGOTIC EMBRYOGENESIS
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 04 August 2010
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Preface
- Abbreviations
- List of cDNA clones, genes, protein products, and mutants
- 1 Reproductive biology of angiosperms: retrospect and prospect
- SECTION I GAMETOGENESIS
- SECTION II POLLINATION AND FERTILIZATION
- SECTION III ZYGOTIC EMBRYOGENESIS
- 12 Developmental biology of the endosperm
- 13 Embryogenesis and physiology of growth of embryos
- 14 Genetic and molecular analysis of embryogenesis
- 15 Storage protein synthesis in developing embryos
- SECTION IV ADVENTIVE EMBRYOGENESIS
- SECTION V APPLICATIONS
- References
- Index
Summary
Completion of embryogenesis in angiosperms results in the formation of a full-term embryo, which is an assemblage of organs whose cells and tissues are specialized for functions essential for the initiation and continuation of the sporophytic life of the plant. As seen in Chapter 13, our current understanding of embryogenesis owes much to extensive descriptive accounts gained from light and electron microscopic studies and experimental work relating to the culture of embryos. Based on these accounts, it is convenient to consider embryogenesis in terms of a series of developmental processes aimed at creating a recognizable morphological structure. Most important among these processes are the establishment of the precise spatial organization of cells derived from the first few rounds of division of the zygote, the differentiation of cells of common origin to create diversity in the resulting embryo, and biochemical preparations for embryo maturation, desiccation, and dormancy. As part of the mature seed, the embryo unleashes another developmental program to initiate germination; however, since germination-related events are not considered in this book, the topic will not be a part of the discussion here. The developmental episodes during embryogenesis have little in common, yet there is a common background because they are at the root of many multidimensional processes involving different levels of interactions.
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- Molecular Embryology of Flowering Plants , pp. 394 - 439Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 1997