Abstract
A modified method for obtaining surface spread synaptonemal complexes (SCs) from pollen mother cells has been developed. Silver-stained SC-preparation of one monocotyledonous species,Ornithogalum flavovirens, and one dicotyledonous plant,Paeonia tenuifolia, were analysed by light and electron microscopy. The SCs in both species frequently broke into roughly equally sized SC pieces with staggered or blunt breakpoints. The telomeric ends of the SCs normally were lacking attachment organelles and, therefore, were hardly distinguishable from blunt breakpoints. Interstitially, shorter stretches of SCs often exhibited unpaired lateral elements. This phenomenon is discussed with regard to segmental incomplete homology and as it relates to the normal sequence of SC morphological changes during the course of meiotic prophase.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Abirached-Darmency, M., Zickler, D., Cauderon, Y., 1983: Synaptonemal complex and recombination nodules in rye (Secale cereale). — Chromosoma88, 299–306.
Albini, S. M., Jones, G. H., 1984: Synaptonemal complex-associated centromeres and recombination nodules in plant meiocytes prepared by an improved surface-spreading technique. — Exp. Cell Res.155, 588–592.
, 1984: A method for preparing two-dimensional surface-spreads of synaptonemal complexes from plant meiocytes for light and electron microscopy. — Exp. Cell Res.152, 280–284.
Ambros, P., 1983: Untersuchungen zur Feinstruktur mitotischer Chromosomen: Replikationsmuster, Verteilung der Schwester-Chromatiden-Austausche und Bänderungsverhalten beiOrnithogalum (Liliaceae). — Ph.D. Thesis, University of Vienna.
Anderson, L. K., Stack, S. M., Fox, M. H., Chuanshan, Z., 1985: The relationship between genome size and synaptonemal complex length in higher plants. — Exp. Cell Res.156, 367–378.
Counce, S. J., Meyer, G. F., 1973: Differentiation of the synaptonemal complex and the kinetochore inLocusta spermatocytes studied by whole mount electron microscopy. — Chromosoma44, 231–253.
Gillies, C. B., 1981: Electron microscopy of spread maize pachytene synaptonemal complexes. — Chromosoma83, 575–591.
, 1984: The synaptonemal complex in higher plants. — Crit. Rev. Plant Sci.2, 81–116.
, 1985: An electron microscopic study of synaptonemal complex formation at zygotene of rye. — Chromosoma92, 165–175.
Hasenkampf, C. A., 1984: Synaptonemal complex formation in pollen mother cells ofTradescantia. — Chromosoma90, 275–284.
Holm, P. B., 1977: Three-dimensional reconstruction of chromosome pairing during the zygotene stage of meiosis inLilium longiflorum (Thunb.). — Carlsberg Res. Commun.42, 103–151.
Kodama, Y., Yoshida, M. C., Sasaki, M., 1980: An improved silver staining technique for nucleolus organizer regions by using nylon cloth. — Japan. J. Hum. Genet.25, 229–233.
Loidl, J., 1984: Light microscopical observations on surface spread synaptonemal complexes ofAllium ursinum. — Caryologia37, 415–421.
Moses, M. J., 1956: Chromosomal structures in crayfish spermatocytes. — J. Biophys. Biochem. Cytol.2, 215–218.
, 1977: Synaptonemal complex karyotyping in spermatocytes of the chinese hamster (Cricetulus griseus) I. Morphology of the autosomal complement in spread preparations. — Chromosoma60, 99–125.
Rasmussen, S. W., Holm, P. B., 1980: Mechanics of meiosis. — Hereditas93, 187–216.
Schwarzacher, T., Mayr, B., Schweizer, D., 1984: Heterochromatin and nucleolus-organizer-region behaviour at male pachytene ofSus scrofa domestica. — Chromosoma91, 12–19.
Schwarzacher-Robinson, T., 1986: Meiosis and somatic karyotypes ofPaeonia tenuifolia andP. officinalis. — Pl. Syst. Evol. (in press).
Sharp, P., 1982: Sex chromosome pairing during male meiosis in marsupials. — Chromosoma86, 27–47.
Solari, A. J., 1980: Synaptonemal complexes and associated structures in microspread human spermatocytes. — Chromosoma81, 315–337.
, 1981: Chromosomal axes during and after diplotene. — InSchweiger, H. G., (Ed.): Int. Cell Biology 1980–1981, pp. 178–186. — Berlin, Heidelberg, New York: Springer.
Stack, S., 1982: Two-dimensional spreads of synaptonemal complexes from solanaceous plants I: The technique. — Stain technology57, 265–272.
, 1984: Heterochromatin, the synaptonemal complex and crossing over. — J. Cell Sci.71, 159–176.
, 1984: The relation between synapsis and chiasma formation inRhoeo spathacea. — Chromosoma90, 72–83.
Weith, A., Traut, W., 1980: Synaptonemal complexes with associated chromatin in a moth,Ephestia kuehniella Z. — The fine structure of the W chromosomal heterochromatin. — Chromosoma78, 275–291.
Westergaard, M., Wettstein, von D., 1972: The synaptinemal complex. — Ann. Rev. Genet.6, 71–110.
Wettstein, von D., Rasmussen, S. W., Holm, P. B., 1984: The synaptonemal complex in genetic segregation. — Ann. Rev. Genet.18, 331–413.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Schwarzacher-Robinson, T., Schweizer, D. Synaptonemal complex spreading in plants: Technical aspects and preliminary observations on the synaptonemal complex inPaeonia andOrnithogalum . Pl Syst Evol 154, 129–136 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00984873
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00984873