The Role of Pollen Extensin Chimeras in Pollen-Pistil Interactions

Colorado State University, Fort Collins CO

Investigators

Abstract

0091976 Bedinger In higher plants, the sperm in the male pollen are delivered to the egg in the female pistil via a growing pollen tube. For fertilization to occur, there must be very specific pollen-pistil recognition between compatible species. The work focuses on proteins in the pollen tube called Pex proteins. The structure and location of the Pex proteins suggest that they are recognition molecules. A series of genetic and molecular biology experiments will test whether or not this is the case. These studies will have an impact on the development of improved crop species in two ways. First, it is imperative that we understand the nature of reproductive barriers in plants because of valid concerns about cross pollination of genetically engineered crop plants with neighboring plant species. Second, future experiments will focus on manipulating Pex proteins to selectively circumvent reproductive barriers between plant species in order to introduce desirable traits, for example from wild species into domesticated species.