<i>VvBOR3</i> and <i>VvBOR4</i> expression in response to hormone applications.

<p>Analysis was performed on flowers at anthesis and fruits at setting from <i>Vitis vinifera</i> cv Carménère plants exposed to 100 μM ABA or 290 μM GA. Non-treated plants were used as a control. For each determination, expression of the respective gene in control samples was adjusted to 1 relative unit. Data represent means of 4 biological replicates ± SD.</p

Germination capability of pollen grains from two <i>V</i>. <i>vinifera</i> cultivars examined under light microscopy.

<p>a) Cabernet Sauvignon in basal media (100x); b) Carménère in basal media (100x), c) Carménère in basal media (400x); and d) Germination rates in either basal or 1mM borate supplemented media at 25°C. Acolporate pollen grains in b) and c) are pointed by arrows. Basal: basal germination medium composed by 1mM CaCl2, 15% sucrose, pH 5.8 and 1% agar. +Bac: basal germination medium supplemented with 1mM borate. Means with different letters in d) are significantly different at p<0.05.</p

Morphology of normal (a-e,n,o) and abnormal (f-m) pollen grains from six <i>Vitis vinifera</i> cultivars analyzed under scanning electron microscopy.

<p>a) Cabernet sauvignon (polar view); b) Chardonnay (sub-polar view); c) Malbec (sub-equatorial view); d) Carménère (equatorial view); e) Syrah (equatorial view); f) Carménère acolporate; g) Merlot acolporate; h) Carménère acolporate and collapsed; i) Malbec acolporate and collapsed, j) Carménère jumbo; k) Malbec bicolporate; l) Merlot irregular; m) Carménère irregular; n) Carménère anatomy of endo (germinal pore) and ectoapertures (colpi); and o) Cabernet sauvignon classical exine sculpture.</p

Quantification of abnormal pollen, millerandage and fruitlet abscission rates in the <i>V</i>. <i>vinifera</i> cultivars Cabernet Sauvignon (CS), Carménère (Cm), Chardonnay (Ch), Malbec (Mb), Merlot (Mt) and Syrah (Sy) in two growing seasons (S1 and S2).

<p>a) Abnormal pollen rates determined in samples processed by the Erdtman acetolysis method; b) PFD and fruitlet abscission rates; and c) Correlation between abnormal pollen and PFD rates (black squares) and between abnormal pollen and fruitlet abscission rates (open squares). Means with different letters are significantly different at p<0.05.</p

Table_1_Overexpression of a SDD1-Like Gene From Wild Tomato Decreases Stomatal Density and Enhances Dehydration Avoidance in Arabidopsis and Cultivated Tomato.PDF

<p>Stomata are microscopic valves formed by two guard cells flanking a pore, which are located on the epidermis of most aerial plant organs and are used for water and gas exchange between the plant and the atmosphere. The number, size and distribution of stomata are set during development in response to changing environmental conditions, allowing plants to minimize the impact of a stressful environment. In Arabidopsis, STOMATAL DENSITY AND DISTRIBUTION 1 (AtSDD1) negatively regulates stomatal density and optimizes transpiration and water use efficiency (WUE). Despite this, little is known about the function of AtSDD1 orthologs in crop species and their wild stress-tolerant relatives. In this study, SDD1-like from the stress-tolerant wild tomato Solanum chilense (SchSDD1-like) was identified through its close sequence relationship with SDD1-like from Solanum lycopersicum and AtSDD1. Both Solanum SDD1-like transcripts accumulated in high levels in young leaves, suggesting that they play a role in early leaf development. Arabidopsis sdd1-3 plants transformed with SchSDD1-like under a constitutive promoter showed a significant reduction in stomatal leaf density compared with untransformed sdd1-3 plants. Additionally, a leaf dehydration shock test demonstrated that the reduction in stomatal abundance of transgenic plants was sufficient to slow down dehydration. Overexpression of SchSDD1-like in cultivated tomato plants decreased the stomatal index and density of the cotyledons and leaves, and resulted in higher dehydration avoidance. Taken together, these results indicate that SchSDD1-like functions in a similar manner to AtSDD1 and suggest that Arabidopsis and tomatoes share this component of the stomatal development pathway that impinges on water status.</p

Acetolyzed pollen grains from six <i>Vitis vinifera</i> cultivars analyzed under light microscopy.

<p>a) Cabernet Sauvignon, b) Carménère, c) Chardonnay, d) Malbec, e) Merlot and f) Syrah. Samples were visualized at 40X magnification. Abnormal pollen grains are pointed by arrowheads.</p

Grapevine <i>VvBOR</i> gene family and identity of encoded proteins with the reference protein AtBOR1 from <i>Arabidopsis thaliana</i>.

<p>Grapevine <i>VvBOR</i> gene family and identity of encoded proteins with the reference protein AtBOR1 from <i>Arabidopsis thaliana</i>.</p

Expression profiles of <i>VvBOR1</i>, <i>VvBOR3</i> and <i>VvBOR4</i> genes in vegetative (leaves and roots) and reproductive organs of <i>Vitis vinifera cv</i>. <i>Carménère</i>.

<p>Pre-anthesis (flowers, 5 days before full bloom), anthesis (pollen depleted flowers at full bloom), setting (fruits, 2 days after pollination), pre-véraison (berries, 2 weeks after pollination) and véraison (berries, 8 weeks after pollination). The insert represent expression levels in pollen from flowers at anthesis. <i>VvBOR1</i> expression in leaves was adjusted to 1 relative unit. Data represent the means of 4 biological replicates ± SD.</p

Image_3_Overexpression of a SDD1-Like Gene From Wild Tomato Decreases Stomatal Density and Enhances Dehydration Avoidance in Arabidopsis and Cultivated Tomato.PDF

<p>Stomata are microscopic valves formed by two guard cells flanking a pore, which are located on the epidermis of most aerial plant organs and are used for water and gas exchange between the plant and the atmosphere. The number, size and distribution of stomata are set during development in response to changing environmental conditions, allowing plants to minimize the impact of a stressful environment. In Arabidopsis, STOMATAL DENSITY AND DISTRIBUTION 1 (AtSDD1) negatively regulates stomatal density and optimizes transpiration and water use efficiency (WUE). Despite this, little is known about the function of AtSDD1 orthologs in crop species and their wild stress-tolerant relatives. In this study, SDD1-like from the stress-tolerant wild tomato Solanum chilense (SchSDD1-like) was identified through its close sequence relationship with SDD1-like from Solanum lycopersicum and AtSDD1. Both Solanum SDD1-like transcripts accumulated in high levels in young leaves, suggesting that they play a role in early leaf development. Arabidopsis sdd1-3 plants transformed with SchSDD1-like under a constitutive promoter showed a significant reduction in stomatal leaf density compared with untransformed sdd1-3 plants. Additionally, a leaf dehydration shock test demonstrated that the reduction in stomatal abundance of transgenic plants was sufficient to slow down dehydration. Overexpression of SchSDD1-like in cultivated tomato plants decreased the stomatal index and density of the cotyledons and leaves, and resulted in higher dehydration avoidance. Taken together, these results indicate that SchSDD1-like functions in a similar manner to AtSDD1 and suggest that Arabidopsis and tomatoes share this component of the stomatal development pathway that impinges on water status.</p

Image_2_Overexpression of a SDD1-Like Gene From Wild Tomato Decreases Stomatal Density and Enhances Dehydration Avoidance in Arabidopsis and Cultivated Tomato.PDF

<p>Stomata are microscopic valves formed by two guard cells flanking a pore, which are located on the epidermis of most aerial plant organs and are used for water and gas exchange between the plant and the atmosphere. The number, size and distribution of stomata are set during development in response to changing environmental conditions, allowing plants to minimize the impact of a stressful environment. In Arabidopsis, STOMATAL DENSITY AND DISTRIBUTION 1 (AtSDD1) negatively regulates stomatal density and optimizes transpiration and water use efficiency (WUE). Despite this, little is known about the function of AtSDD1 orthologs in crop species and their wild stress-tolerant relatives. In this study, SDD1-like from the stress-tolerant wild tomato Solanum chilense (SchSDD1-like) was identified through its close sequence relationship with SDD1-like from Solanum lycopersicum and AtSDD1. Both Solanum SDD1-like transcripts accumulated in high levels in young leaves, suggesting that they play a role in early leaf development. Arabidopsis sdd1-3 plants transformed with SchSDD1-like under a constitutive promoter showed a significant reduction in stomatal leaf density compared with untransformed sdd1-3 plants. Additionally, a leaf dehydration shock test demonstrated that the reduction in stomatal abundance of transgenic plants was sufficient to slow down dehydration. Overexpression of SchSDD1-like in cultivated tomato plants decreased the stomatal index and density of the cotyledons and leaves, and resulted in higher dehydration avoidance. Taken together, these results indicate that SchSDD1-like functions in a similar manner to AtSDD1 and suggest that Arabidopsis and tomatoes share this component of the stomatal development pathway that impinges on water status.</p