Table Of ContentY. Dattee C. Dumas A. Gallais
(Eds.)
Reproductive Biology
and Plant Breeding
Biologie de la Reproduction
et Amelioration des Plantes
With 50 Figures
Springer-Verlag
Berlin Heidelberg New York
London Paris Tokyo
Hong Kong Barcelona
Budapest
Dr. YVETIE DATTEE
G.EY.E.S., La Miniere, 78285 Guyancourt Cedex, France
Professor Dr. CHRISTIAN DUMAS
RCAP INRA 23879, Universite Lyon I - Bat 741,43 boulevard du
11 Novembre, 69622 Villeurbanne Cedex, France
Professor Dr. ANDRE GALLAIS
I.N.A.-P.G., Station de Genetique vegetale, Ferme du Moulon,
91190 Gif-sur-Yvette, France
The XIIIth EUCARPIA Congress, from the 6th to the 1 tth July 1992 in Angers, France, was
organized with the support of:
• The "Ministere de la Recherche et de la 1echnologie" (French Ministry of Research and
1echnology),
• The "Ministere de l'Agriculture et de la Foret" (French Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry)
and with the sponsorship of:
• The "Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique" (I.N.R.A.),
• The "Groupement National Interprofessionnel des Semences"
• The "Regional Collective of Pays de la loire."
ISBN-13 :978-3-642-77000-5 e-1SBN-13 :978-3-642-76998-6
DOl: 10.1007/978-3-642-76998-6
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© Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 1992
Softcover reprint of the hardcover 1st edition 1992
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Preface
This volume has been produced for the XI 11th EUCARPIA Congress.
EUCARPIA (the European Association for Plant breeding) currently
has 1.200 members, including scientists and staff of both publ ic and
private organizations. Its aim is to promote scientific and technical
research and cooperation In the field of plant breeding, and thereby
to contribute to the development of agriculture.
Every three years, EUCARPIA organizes a scientific congress. In
1992, the Xilith EUCARPIA Congress will be held In ANGERS (Fran
ce) and the theme Is "Reproductive biology and plant breeding".
Reproduction of plant material Is central to selection. The geneti
cist, the plant breeder and the seed grower all use sexual and ve
getative reproduction during the various stages of plant breeding
and creation of variety.
The possibility of unlimited interspecific reproduction, the use of
gametogenesis dysfunction, the creation of auto and allogamy, and
the cloning of the best genotypes are the challenges before the plant
breeder. To understand how the reproductive system conditions the
genetic structure of a population, and to Investigate the relation
ships between the reproductive mode and the organization of varia
bility Is a central key to genetic progress.
The articles presented In this book review the current state of
knowledge of reproductive biology, and Its impact on variety crea
tion.
Molecular analyses and mutant studies have led to dramatic progress
In several major areas of genetics and biology. For example
Some important genes (homeotlc genes and the MADS box) have
been Identified and isolated from both Arabidopsls thallana and
Antirrhinum majus (in particular by the groups of Coen and
Meyerowitz, 1991 ; Schwarz-Sommer, 1990). It Is now possible to
VI
explain both actinomorphous and major genes (MADS box). Mutant
studies have similarly shown that another small group of genes
are responsible for the different inflorescences observed in An
giosperms.
A set of at least nine genes have been Id.entlfled that control
pattern formation during embryogenesis In Arabldopsis thai lana
(Mayer et aJ., 1991).
• Pollen genes have been shown to be specificall y expressed during
the male programme, and this has led to a better understanding
of pollen wall formation and biosynthesis (Mascarenhas, 1990). A
new technique based on Inactivation of the tapetum using a spe
cific gene expressing RNAse activity opens new possibilities for
creating male sterility In plants (Goldberg's group and P.G.S. :
Mariani et al., 1990).
The effective transformation of a self-compatible line with a gene
encoding a molecule governing self-incompatibility has been rea
Ilzed In a sporophytic system (Nasrallah et al., 1991). Futher
more, the possible Involvement of RNAse in the gametophytic
self-Incompatibility system has recently emerged (McClure et
al., 1989 and EC BRIDGE participants in this volume).
In vitro fertilization and embryo rescue techniques for Angio
sperms can be used to overcome incompati b i I ity and are a good
model for the analysis of the effects of stress on seed setting.
Similarly novel techniques of in vitro plant gamete Isolation and
their electrofusion are now available (Zenkteler, this volume;
Kranz et al., 1991).
Significant progresses have been made in several aspects related
to the molecular control of somatic embryogenesis (for exam
pie: de Vries, this volume) and androgenesis. In addition, the
better understanding of the cryopreservation allows new windows
in cell, organs and plant storage.
These major advances in plant reproductive biology are the results
of the emergence and use of new molecular genetic techniques (inclu-
VII
ding cloning and ge!1e sequencing, PCR, gene transfer techniques)
and tools for cell biology (including l!! situ hlbrydization, immuno
chemi stry) •
Major advances have been made in population studies and the crea
tion of varieties :
• The growing interest In genetic resources, not onl y In cataloguing
Information, but also In their dynamic management (Allard, this
volume), ensures effective use of biological diversity in plant
breeding •
• The progress in cell biology has brought practical results In va
riety creation. The chapter dedicated to double haploids bears
witness. Other appl ications wi II arise from cryoconservation
(Kartha, this volume).
The development of molecular methods (RFLP, RAPD) wi II lead to
the establ ishment of genetic maps for cultivated plant species,
and ·the identification of genes of interest.
There promise to be many applications for molecular labelling,
includ ing marker-assi sted selection (Helentjaris, th is volume)
and an understanding of, and consequently, analysis and predic
tion of heterosis (de Vienne, this volume).
Thus a variety of approaches have combined to give a better under
standing of genetic diversity and above all, show that the plant
breeding and the creation of varieties are activities that involve
many elements, and take advantage of the most up to date progress
in genetics, cell biology and molecular biology.
Yvette Dattee Christian Dumas Andre Gallais
INRA - GEVES INRA - Universite INRA - INAPG
Lyon I Ferme du Moulon
78285 Guyancourt 6.9622 Villeurbanne 91190 Gif-sur-Yvette
The editors thank Corinne Genermont for reading the manuscript.
VIII
References
Coen E.S. and Meyerowitz E.M. (1991).
The war of the whorls : genetic interactions control I ing flower
development. Nature 353, 31-36.
Kranz E., Bautor J. and Lorz H. (1991).
In vitro fertil ization of single, isolated gametes, transmission of
cytop lasmic organelles and cell reconstitution of maize (Zea mays
L.). Sex. Plant. Reprod. 4, 12-16.
Mariani c., De Beuckeleer M., Tuettnar J., Leemans J. and Gol dberg
R.G. (1990).
Induction of male steri I ity in plants by a chimeric ribonuclease
gene. Nature 347, 737-741.
Mascarenhas J.P. (1990).
Gene activity during pollen development. Annu. Rev. Plant Phy
siol. and Plant Mol. Bioi. 41, 317-338.
Mayer U., Torres Ruiz R.A., Berleth T., Misera S. and Jurgens G.
(1991).
Mutations affecting body organization in the Arabidopsis embryo.
Nature 353, 402-407.
McClure B.A., Haring V., Ebert P.R., Anderson M.A., Simpson
R.L, Sakiyama F. and Clarke A.E. (1989).
Style self-incompatibility gene products of Nicotiana alata are ri
bonucleases. Nature 342, 955-957.
Nasrallah J.B., Yu S.E. and Nasrallah M.E. (1991).
The self-incompatibi I ity genes of Brassica oleracea expreSSion,
isolation and structure. Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. USA 35,5551-
5555.
Schwarz-Sommer Z., Huijser P., Nacken W., Saedler H. and Sommer
H. (1990).
Genetic control of flower development by homeotic genes in An
tirrhinum majus. SCience 250, 931-936.
Preface
Le present document est edite a I'occasion du Xllieme Congres
EUCARPIA.
EUCARPIA (Association Europeenne pour I' Amelioration des Plantes)
compte aujourd'hul 1.200 membres, sclentifiques et ingenleurs d'e
tablissements publics et prlves. Elle a pour obJectif de promou
voir la recherche et la cooperation sclentifique et technique en ame
lioration des plantes et de contribuer ainsi au developpement de
I'agriculture.
Tous les trois ans, EUCARPIA organise un congres sclentlflque. En
1992, Ie Xilleme congres EUCARPIA se tient a Angers sur Ie theme
"Biologle de la reproduction et amelioration des plantes".
La reproduction du materiel vegetal est un processus de base de la
selection. Le geneticlen, Ie selectionneur, Ie multlpllcateur de se
a
mences utilisent la reproduction sexuee et vegetative toutes les
etapes du schema d' amelioration et de creation varietale.
Pouvolr a volonte franchir les barrieres de reproduction inter
speclflques, utillser les deviations de la gametogenese, provoquer
I 'auto et I'allogamie, cloner les genotypes les plus performants sont
des defis permanents du selectlonneur. Comprendre comment Ie sys
teme de reproduction condltlonne la structure genetlque des popu
lations et rechercher les relations entre Ie mode de reproduction et
I'organlsation de la varlabilite constituent une cle fondamentale du
progres genetlque.
Les articles presentes dans ce volume synthetlsent les connaissances
actuelles en blologie de la reproduction et leurs Impacts sur la
creation de varletes.
PI.usleurs domalnes de la genetique et de la biologle ont considera
a
blement progresse grace I'utilisatlon de I'analyse moleculaire et
des mutants :
Certains genes majeurs (genes homeotiques de la "MADS box") ont
ete caracterises et isoles chez Arabidopsis thaliana et Antirrhi
num majus (en particul ier par les groupes de Coen et Meyerowitz,
1991 et Schwarz-Sommer et aI., 1990). II est malntenant possible
d'expliquer tous les processus de la morphogenese florale aussi
bien pour les fleurs zygomorphes que pour les fleurs actinomor
phes par Ie controle de quelques genes majeurs. De meme, des
etudes de mutants ont montre que les.differents types d'inflores
cences observes chez les Angiospermes sont controles par un petit
nombre de genes d' un autre groupe que les precedents.
Une serie d'au moins neuf genes responsables du controle de la
forme au cours de I'embryogenese a ete identifiee chez Arabidop
sis thaliana (Mayer et aI., 1991).
Pour Ie pollen, i I a ete montre que certains genes sont exprimes
selectivement pendant Ie programme male (Mascarenhas, 1990).
Cette constatation a conduit a une mei Ileure comprehension de .Ia
formation et de la biosynthese de la paroi poll inique. Une nou
velle technique, s'appuyant sur I'inactivation des cellules tape
tales a I'aide d'un gene tissu specifique, exprimant une activite
RNAse, ouvre de nouvelles possibilites pour induire la sterilite
male chez les plantes (groupe de Gol dberg et P .G.S. : Mariani
et a I., 1 990) •
La transformation d June I ignee avec un gene codant pour une mo
lecule responsable de I'auto-incompatibilite a ete realisee avec
succes dans un systeme sporophytique (Nasrallah et aI., 1991).
Par ailleurs, I'implication probable de la RNAse dans Ie systeme
d'auto-incompatibilite gametophytique a ete recemment mise en
evidence (McClure et aI., 1989, et participants du programme
BRIDGE dans ce volume).
Les techniques de fecondation in vitro et de sauvetage d 'embryon
peuvent etre utilisees pour surmonter I'incompatibilite ; elles
XI
constituent un bon modele pour I 'analyse des effets des stress sur
la formation des graines. De meme, des techniques nouvelles d' i
solement l!! vitro et d'electrofusion des gametes sont maintenant
mises au point (Zenkteler dans ce volume; Kranz et al., 1991).
Des progres significatifs ont ete faits sur plusieurs aspects de
la connaissance du contr61e moleculaire de I 'embryogenese soma
tique (de Vries dans ce volume) et de I 'androgenese. De plus,
une mei Ileure comp rehension de la cryoconservation apporte des
ouvertures dans la conservation des cellules, des organes vege
taux et des plantes.
Ces importants progres sur la connaissance de la biologie de la re
production des plantes resultent de la mise au point et de I'utilisa
tion de nouvelles techniques de biologie moleculaire (incluant Ie
clonage et Ie sequen<;:age de genes, la PCR, la transformation gene
tique) et de la mise au point d'outils de biologie cellulaire (hybri
dation in situ, immunochimie).
Pour I 'etude des populations et la creation des varietes, des pro
gres importants sont realises aujourd'hui :
L' interet acc ru porte aux res sou rces geneti ques, non seu I ement
pour leur recensement mais surtout pour leur gestion dynamique
(Allard dans ce volume), garantit une utilisation effective de la
diversite biologique en amelioration des plantes.
Les progres de la biologie cellulaire apportent des resultats pra
tiques en creation varietale. Le chapitre consacre aux haploides
doubles en est un temoignage. D'autres applications sont appor
tees par la cryoconservation (Kartha dans ce volume).
Le developpement des methodes moleculaires (RFLP, RAPD) per
met I 'etablissement de cartes genetiques chez les vegetaux culti
yes et la detection de genes d' interet.
