Effets de faibles abaissements de température sur la différenciation de l'oosphère et sur les processus de fécondation chez le Marsilea vestita (Ptéridophytes)

Abstract

Male and female gametes of Marsilea vestita were subjected to weak cooling periods (24° C/16° C or 24° C/12° C) of 1–4 h during the ultimate stage of gametogenesis. Effects of these suboptimal temperatures were observed on the organization of the oosphere on fertilization, and further development of the embryos. The changes observed varied with cold intensity and were proportional to the exposure time. The last steps of archegonogenesis were delayed (16° C) or even totally inhibited (12° C). The female gamete structure generally exhibited the following changes: the fertilization cone was enlarged, the cytoplasm more or less vacuolated, and organelles redistributed towards peripheral regions. Furthermore, the presence of chromatic fragments within the cytoplasm (12° C) suggests that the last division of female gametogenesis was strongly affected. In these gametes, fertilization was always reduced. When it occurred, the treatment considerably slowed down the different stages, allowing a better understanding of the male nucleus reactions during its migration. The percentage of embryos able to grow decreased proportionally to the length of cold exposure (16° C). After exposure of the gametes to 12° C, most embryos did not survive.