Unique features of the plant life cycle and their consequences

Walbot, V. and Evans, M.M.S. (2003) Unique features of the plant life cycle and their consequences. Nature Reviews Genetics, 4. pp. 369-379.

Preview

PDF - Published Version | Preview

Abstract

Continuous development, the absence of a germline, flexible and reversible cellular differentiation, and the existence of haploid and diploid generations — both of which express genes — are characteristics that distinguish plants from animals. Because these differences alter the impact of mutations, animals and plants experience varied selection pressures. Despite different life-cycles, both flowering plants and multicellular animals have evolved complex sensing mechanisms that act after fertilization as 'quality checks' on reproduction, and that detect chromosome dosage and the parent of origin for specific genes. Although flowering plant embryos escape such surveillance in vitro, embryo success in the seed often depends on a healthy endosperm — a nutritive tissue that is produced by a second fertilization event in which maternal and paternal gene contributions can be monitored immediately after fertilization and throughout development.

Item Type:	Article
Author Affiliation:	Department of Biological Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305-5020, USA.
Subjects:	Crop Improvement
Divisions:	UNSPECIFIED
Depositing User:	Mr Siva Shankar
Date Deposited:	20 May 2014 08:50
Last Modified:	20 May 2014 08:50
Official URL:	http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nrg1064
URI:	http://eprints.icrisat.ac.in/id/eprint/13193

Actions (login required)

View Item