ECS1 and ECS2 regulate polyspermy and suppress the formation of haploid plants by promoting double fertilization

In flowering plants, the number of pollen tubes that provide sperm cells to the female gametes is restricted by a pollen tube block. This safeguard mechanism is only activated after successful fertilization of both female gametes and involves the disintegration of pollen tube attracting synergid cel...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inbioRxiv
Main Authors Mao, Yanbo, Nakel, Thomas, Serbes, Isil Erbasol, Dawit Girma Tekleyohans, Joshi, Saurabh, Baum, Thomas, Rita Gro&szlig-Hardt
Format Paper
LanguageEnglish
Published Cold Spring Harbor Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press 22.01.2022
Subjects
Endopeptidase
Fertilization
Flowering
Gametes
Mutants
Pollen tubes
Supernumerary
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Summary:In flowering plants, the number of pollen tubes that provide sperm cells to the female gametes is restricted by a pollen tube block. This safeguard mechanism is only activated after successful fertilization of both female gametes and involves the disintegration of pollen tube attracting synergid cells. Yu and coworkers previously reported that the endopeptidase ECS1 and ECS2, which are secreted by fertilized egg cells, prevent the attraction of supernumerary pollen tubes by cleaving the pollen tube attractant LURE11. Here we report on an earlier defect in ecs1 ecs2 mutants that is manifested by single rather than double fertilization of either egg or central cell. The defect is accompanied by a delay in synergid disintegration providing an alternative explanation for the extra pollen tubes observed in the double mutant. These results are corroborated by our finding that ecs1 ecs2 plants segregate both, haploid plants and plants resulting from polyspermy. Competing Interest Statement The authors have declared no competing interest.
DOI:10.1101/2022.01.20.476184