Morphological And Anatomical Characterization Of Transgenic Mutants From Arabidopsis Thaliana

Arabidopsis thaliana L. is employed as the model organism of choice for a wide range of researches such as molecular biology, plant development, and plant genetics and biology. Using mutants and wild-type plants of Arabidopsis thaliana from our laboratory, indoor cultivation methods were studied. Also morphology and structure of mutants were compared with wide-type plants. Moreover, reciprocal crosses were made between mutants and wild types. Through this study the preliminarily differences were identified between mutants and wild-type plants. The main results are as follows:1. Indoor cultivation technology of Arabidopsis thaliana mutants. A set of indoor cultivation approaches was established, which is suitable for Wuhan’s climate. The living rate reached 99% according to this improved technology. The plants can grow healthily and strongly with nourishing liquid. We have managed to cultivate some plants which are 17cm in diameter and 52cm in height. The numbers of their siligues can attain 540. It is very easy and convenient to cultivate them, and not necessary to control temperature and light specially. Furthermore it can be applied for all the year. So this study has provided valuable information for cultivation of Arabidopsis thaliana in Wuhan and the middle and lower reaches of Yangtze River valley.2. Feature and structure of root development in mutants. There are some differences in the structure of cross section between mutants and the wild-type in roots. Cells arrange loosely and unregularly in the front of the region of elongation of mutants. From outside to inside cells of pericycles there are epidermis and cortex in proper order, but endodermis and pericycle are not clear and they are not regularly arranged.3. Feature and structure of leaf development in mutants. Leaves between mutants and wild types are morphologically different. Leaves of mutants are larger and thinner than that of wild types. The largest leaf size from mutants is 3.51cm~2 whereas in wild type this is 2.74 cm~2. The numbers of rosettle leaves in mutants are around 25. But the numbers of rosettle leaves in wild-type plants can reach 43-45. The leaf color of mutants is lighter than that of wild-type. Palisade mesophyll cells in mutants arrange irregularly and are shorter and smaller. The number of chloroplasts in mature leaves of wild-type per square milimetre of cross section is more than that of mutants, and this may be the reason that mutants look lighter than than wild-type.4. Feature and structure of rachis in mutants. There are 8-12 vascular bundles in the rachis of mutants while in wild-type the number of vascular bundles is 13. This number in mutants is notably less than that of wild-type plant.5. Feature and structure of flowers in mutants. From appearance, the numbers of flowers were 4 and 5. During this study, no differences were observed in flower bud differentiation, macrospore differentiation, microspore differentiation. This remains to be studied.6. Genetic analysis. Mutant plants were crossed with wild-type plants and 3761 seeds were obtained, which will be used for further genetic analysis.