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Plant function and evolutionary biology
RESEARCH ARTICLE

Effects of different temperature regimes on flower development, microsporogenesis and fertility in bolting garlic (Allium sativum)

Einat Shemesh Mayer A B , Tomer Ben-Michael A B , Sagie Kimhi A B , Itzhak Forer B , Haim D. Rabinowitch A and Rina Kamenetsky B C
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A The Robert H. Smith Institute of Plant Science and Genetics in Agriculture, The Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food, and Environment, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot 76100, Israel.

B Institute of Plant Science, Agricultural Research Organisation, The Volcani Center, Bet Dagan 50250, Israel.

C Corresponding author. Email: vhrkamen@volcani.agri.gov.il

Functional Plant Biology 42(6) 514-526 https://doi.org/10.1071/FP14262
Submitted: 19 September 2014  Accepted: 20 January 2015   Published: 17 February 2015

Abstract

Garlic (Allium sativum L.) cultivars do not develop fertile flowers and seeds. Therefore, garlic production and improvement depend exclusively on vegetative propagation. Recent advances in garlic research have enabled fertility restoration and the discovery of fertile and male-sterile genotypes; however, the environmental regulation of the reproductive process is still not clear. Garlic seeds are successfully produced in the Mediterrenean region, where the photoperiod is relatively short, whereas spring and summer temperatures are high. We hypothesise that, in bolting garlic, various stages of florogenesis are differentially regulated by temperature and that high temperatures might obstruct pollen production. The effects of eight combinations of controlled growth temperatures on fertile and male-sterile garlic clones were studied. In both genotypes, a gradual temperature increase before and during anthesis favoured intact flower development. Surprisingly, continuous exposure to moderate temperatures during the entire growth period resulted in poor flowering, anther abortion and reduced pollen production. In the male-sterile genotype, no growth regime improved pollen production, which is controlled by genetic mechanisms. In the male-fertile genotype, gradual temperature increase supported pollen production but a sharp transition to high temperatures resulted in rapid flower senescence and pollen abortion, thus supporting our research hypothesis. In both fertile and male-sterile plants, the most vulnerable phase of microsporogenesis is the unicellular microspore stage. Tapetal malformation is the major cause for malnutrition of the microspores, with consequent production of nonviable pollen grains.

Additional keywords: anther, fertility, pollen, tapetum.


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