Molecular Mechanisms of Pollen-Pistil Interactions in Interspecific Crossing Barriers in the Tomato Family
Authors: Eyal Yoram , McCormick Sheila 
Published: December 2021

During the evolutionary process of speciation in plants, naturally occurring barriers to reproduction have developed that affect the transfer of genes within and between related species. These barriers can occur at several different levels beginning with pollination-barriers and ending with hybrid-breakdown. The interaction between pollen and pistils presents one of the major barriers to intra- and inter-specific crosses and is the focus of this research project. Our long-term goal in this research proposal was defined to resolve questions on recognition and communication during pollen-pistil interactions in the extended tomato family. In this context, this work was initiated and planned to study the potential involvement of tomato pollen-specific receptor-like kinases (RLK's) in the interaction between pollen and pistils. By special permission from BARD the objectives of this research were extended to include studies on pollen-pistil interactions and pollination barriers in horticultural crops with an emphasis on citrus. Functional characterization of 2 pollen-specific RLK's from tomato was carried out. The data shows that both encode functional kinases that were active as recombinant proteins. One of the kinases was shown to accumulate mainly after pollen germination and to be phosphorylated in-vitro in pollen membranes as well as in-vivo. The presence of style extract resulted in dephosphorylation of the RLK, although no species specificity was observed. This data implies a role for at least one RLK in pollination events following pollen germination. However, a transgenic plant analysis of the RLK's comprising overexpression, dominant-negative and anti-sense constructs failed to provide answers on their role in pollination. While genetic effects on some of the plants were observed in both the Israeli and American labs, no clear functional answers were obtained. An alternative approach to addressing function was pursued by screening for an artificial ligand for the receptor domain using a peptide phage display library. An enriched peptide sequence was obtained and will be used to design a peptide-ligand to be tested for its effect o pollen germination and tube growth. Self-incompatibility (SI) in citrus was studied on 3 varieties of pummelo. SI was observed using fluorescence microscopy in each of the 3 varieties and compatibility relations between varieties was determined. An initial screen for an S-RNase SI mechanism yielded only a cDNA homologous to the group of S-like RNases, suggesting that SI results from an as yet unknown mechanism. 2D gel electrophoresis was applied to compare pollen and style profiles of different compatibility groups. A "polymorphic" protein band from style extracts was observed, isolated and micro-sequenced. Degenerate primers designed based on the peptide sequence date will be used to isolate the relevant genes i order to study their potential involvement in SI. A study on SI in the apple cultivar Top red was initiated. SI was found, as previously shown, to be complete thus requiring a compatible pollinator variety. A new S-RNase allele was discovered fro Top red styles and was found to be highly homologous to pear S-RNases, suggesting that evolution of these genes pre-dated speciation into apples and pears but not to other Rosaceae species. The new allele provides molecular-genetic tools to determine potential pollinators for the variety Top red as well as a tool to break-down SI in this important variety.