Localization of poly(A)+-containing RNA during female gametophyte development in Medicago sativa and the diploid mutant Medicago sativa ssp. falcata using digoxigenin-labelled oligo-dT probes

Abstract

The detection and distribution pattern of poly(A)+-containing RNA during embryo sac development in the wild type and in a diplosporic mutant of alfalfa was studied using digoxigenin-labelled oligo-dT probes. In the very early stage of development, the megaspore mother cell does not show any poly(A)+RNA accumulation. Subsequently, poly(A) + RNA appears concomitantly in the megaspore mother cell and the nucellus tissue, both in wild and mutant alfalfa. The distribution pattern of poly(A) + RNA reveals some differences. In the mutant, the absence of label in the chalazal part of the nucellus at the megaspore mother cell stage seems to be significant. Compared to the wild type, the hybridization signal at the functional megaspore as well as at the two-nucleate coenocytic stage was reduced. However, the late stages of embryo sac development in the two types were almost comparable, except that the central cell of the mutant accumulated more label. The significance of the results in relation to reduced and unreduced embryo sac development is discussed.