Background Introduction

By Bensen Fan Kristin Gill

Maria Garcia

Part I. Seed Development

By Bensen Fan

Seed Anatomy

Cotyledon

Axis

Flower Anatomy

Pistil

Anthers(Makes Pollens)

Ovary(Contains ovules)

Stigma

Pollination & Fertilization: Forming of a New Life!

Sperms

PollenTube

Embryo Development: Zygote - Young Embryo

Asymmetric Division

Apical Cell

Basal Cell

Embryo Proper

Suspensor

Terminally Differentiated

Late Development: Torpedo - Mature Embryo

SM = Shoot Meristem; RM = Root Meristem

Final Stage: Dormancy

Mature Seeds Dormant Seeds

Germination: Beginning of a New Cycle…

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Part II. Arabidopsis thaliana Embryo

Development

By Kristin Grill

What is the life cycle of an Arabidopsis plant?

What happens during embryo development?

Each stage is essential for embryo development!

EMBRYO SAC GLOBULAR

HEART

TORPEDO

MATURATION

Embryos develop after double fertilization

Early embryos consist of 2 regions:

1. Embryo Proper

2. Suspensor

Globular Embryo

Embryo Proper

Suspensor

Early embryo development is a very coordinated developmental process

Embryo Sac

Egg Cell

Central Cell

Synergids

2-Cell Embryo

Apicalcell

Basalcell

Globular Embryo

Embryo Proper

Suspensor

The parts of a globular embryo undergo different fates

Globular Embryo

Embryo Proper

SuspensorMature Embryo

DifferentiatedOrgan

Mature Arabidopsis

Plant

Late embryo development…

consists of cotyledon and axis development!

2 cotyledons

Heart Stage

Torpedo Stage

Mature Embryo

Consists of:

1.Cotyledons

2.Axis - contains the shoot

and root meristems

Part III: Why is Arabidopsis Thaliana a model plant?

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By Maria Garcia

Here’s Why

Arabidopsis Thaliana is convenient. It has a:

Fast generation timeSmall genomeLarge mutant collectionsLarge scientific community working on all aspects of plant biology

How fast does it grow?Short non-seasonal generation time

Grows all year

4 to 8 weeks from a seed to a mature plant

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How small is it?

Arabidopsis has a small genome

120Mb (25,000 genes- same as humans!)

Arabidopsis genome was sequenced in the year 2000

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Easy to Manipulate

Large mutant collections

ChemicalInsertional

Knock-Out!

Easily manipulatedGenetically tractable

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Everyone is in on it

Large scientific community working on all aspects of plant biology

Many resources on this plant alreadyMuch is already known about this plant

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