Response to Zhang et al., 'do egg cell-secreted aspartic proteases promote gamete attachment?'

Abstract

In angiosperms, the molecular mechanism controlling polytubey/polyspermy block and fertilization recovery was not unraveled until recently (Zhong et al., 2022), which can be described as follows: Five pollen tube-expressed RALF peptide ligands, perceived by the receptor complex composed of three receptors FER/ANJ/HERK1 at the septum, establish the polytubey block at the septum so that only one pollen tube is allowed to emerge from the septum to target the ovule for fertilization. Pollen tube rupture releases the two sperm cells and fertilization is completed within 20 minutes. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.