Embryogenesis in plants
Embryogenesis…
Process of development of embryos
May occur naturally from sexual
fertilization to form a zygotic embryos-
- seed
Plants can also form somatic embryos-
somatic embryogenesis
Without fertilization
Zygotic and somatic embryogenesis share
a number of developmental stages
Zygotic embryogenesis
Zygote as a product of sexual fertilization
Zygote goes thru mitotic divisions
Embryogenesis establishes basic
plant body plan only
Knowledge of embryogenesis comes from
Arabidopsis
The stages/process inlvolved:
1) Enlargement and establishment of
polarity in zygote
Apical end
Basal end
Embryogenesis…
2) First asymmetrical/unequal division
Small apical cell and
large basal cell
The two cells follow different
developmental pathway
Apical cell gives rise to embryo proper,
basal cell gives rise to suspensor
Embryogenesis…
3) Apical cell divides first longitudinally,
and transversally to produce an 8 cell
proembryo called an octant
Divisions are precise, and
simultaneous
Some differentiation takes place
Upper 4 cell layers become different
from lower 4 cells
4) Octant divides several times to produce
a globular embryo (globular stage)
Embryogenesis…
At globular stage, cell differentiation
occurs;
Outer cell will become protoderm-epidermis
Middle cells will become ground meristem
Innermost cells will form procambial cells
This is known as radial patterning of tissues
5) Globular embryo expands rapidly-by
cell divisions of cells in apical end to
produce a structure resembling a heart-
the heart stage
Embryogenesis…
Uppermost part becomes cotyledons
Shoot Apical meristem is established
between the two cotyledons
6) Basal cell divides several times to give
rise to a suspensor
uppermost cell of suspensor becomes
the hypophysis
Hypophysis participates in embryo
formation to form part of root apical
meristem
Embryogenesis…
7) Hypophysis continue to
divide and establish the root
apical meristem
At this stage, the Shoot –root
axis/apical-basal end of plant is
established
embryogenesis
8) the heart-shaped embryo
elongates further to form the
torpedo stage embryo
9) further growth of torpedal embryo may
cause it to curve
restricted by space in ovule
Embryo looks like a walking stick- this is called
walking stick stage
Embryogenesis…
Note:
Establishment of body plan of embryo
occurs very early during embryogenesis
Many genes guide the development of
the embryo such as the body plan and
patterning
Some of these are homeotic genes
Embryogenesis…
Hormones are involved:
Embryogenesis—
period of high cell division- IAA and
cytokinins are high
IAA- involved in patterning and establishment
of polarity in young embryo
GA’s- cell expansion of embryo and
endosperm
Embryogenesis…
Summary- major events
1) establishment of polarity in zygote
2) radial patterning
Establishment of initial cells protoderm,
ground meristem & procambium – @
globular stage
3) Establishment of shoot- root axis ( apical
–basal pattern @end of globular/heart
stage
4) Establishment of shoot-root apical
meristems @ heart stage
5) initiation of cotyledons- @ heart stage
