Portal de Periódicos da CAPES

Role of mitochondria during female gametophyte development and fertilization in A. thaliana

2014; Elsevier BV; Volume: 19; Linguagem: Inglês

10.1016/j.mito.2014.01.005

1872-8278

María Victoria Martin, Ayelén Mariana Distefano, Andrés Bellido, Juan Pablo Córdoba, Débora Soto, Gabriela Carolina Pagnussat, Eduardo Zabaleta,

Plant Parasitism and Resistance

Plants alternate between two generations during their life cycle: the diploid sporophyte and the haploid male and female gametophytes, in which gametes are generated. In higher plants, the female gametophyte or embryo sac is a highly polarized seven-celled structure that develops within the sporophytic tissues of the ovule. It has been proposed that mitochondria are crucial in many cell signaling pathways controlling mitosis, cell specification, cell death and fertilization within the embryo sac. Here, we summarize recent findings that highlight the importance of this organelle during female gametophyte development and fertilization in plants.