Mutations in the Arabidopsis Male Meiocyte Death1 (MMD1) gene cause male meiocytes to die during meiosis.  In this study we investigated whether MMD1 also plays a role in tapetal cell development and if alterations observed in the male meiocytes could be due, in part, to defects in the tapetal cells, which provide nutrients and developmental signals to the meiocytes. Anther cell development in the mmd1 mutant is being compared to that of the wild type anthers at different stages of anther development.  Wild type and mutant buds of varying ages were fixed and embedded in Spurr's resin. Semi-thin sections (.5�m) of the anthers were generated and are being analyzed.   Preliminary results indicate that alterations in tapetal cells are in fact present in mmd1 anthers.  The results of a detailed analysis of anther development and the potential role of MMD1 in tapetal cells will be presented.

Arabidopsis thaliana male meiocyte death1 gene's role in tapetal cell development

243rd National Meeting (2012)

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