DNA damage in the early primordial anther is closely correlated with stamen arrest in the female flower of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.)

• Published in: Planta Vol. 217; no. 6; pp. 888 - 895
• Main Authors: Hao, Y.J, Wang, D.H, Peng, Y.B, Bai, S.L, Xu, L.Y, Li, Y.Q, Xu, Z.H, Bai, S.N
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin Springer-Verlag 01.10.2003; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; Anthers; Apoptosis; Biological and medical sciences; Biology and morphogenesis of the reproductive apparatus. Photoperiodism, vernalisation; Chromatin; Condensation; Cucumbers; Cucumis sativus; Cucumis sativus - cytology; Cucumis sativus - genetics; Cucumis sativus - physiology; Deoxyribonucleic acid; DNA; DNA Damage; DNA fragmentation; DNA, Plant - genetics; Economic plant physiology; Female flowers; flowering; Flowering, floral biology, reproduction patterns; Flowers - cytology; Flowers - genetics; Flowers - physiology; Flowers - ultrastructure; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Growth and development; In Situ Nick-End Labeling; Male flowers; plant anatomy; Plant physiology and development; Plants; Stamens; Vegetative and sexual reproduction, floral biology, fructification; Anther; Cucumis; Sex expression; Esterases; Activation; DNase; Floral biology; Regulation(control); Female flower development; Deoxyribonuclease I; TUNEL assay; Sex determination; Dicotyledones; Angiospermae; Damage; Mechanism of action; Stamen; Enzyme; Cucurbitaceae; Tissue specificity; Cucumis sativus; Vegetable crop; DNA; Morphology; Hydrolases; Spermatophyta
• ISSN: 0032-0935; 1432-2048
• DOI: 10.1007/s00425-003-1064-x

To investigate the regulatory mechanisms of sex expression in cucumber, morphological observations and biochemical analyses were carried out on inappropriate stamen development of female flowers of cucumber. It was found that developmental arrest of the inappropriate stamen mainly occurs at the anther primordium. This arrest is closely correlated with DNA damage, as detected by TUNEL assay, and might result from anther-specific DNase activation. It was also found that the DNA damage does not lead to cell degeneration, although chromatin condensation is observed in the anther primordia.