Protocols for Obtaining Zygotic and Somatic Embryos for Studying the Regulation of Early Embryo Development in the Model Legume Medicago truncatula

Summary

The goal is to illustrate that the model legume Medicago truncatula can be readily utilized to investigate the regulation of early plant embryogenesis to complement the non-legume Arabidopsis model. Pod morphology is linked to zygotic embryogenesis stages and a protocol to collect embryos using tissue culture is also provided.

Abstract

Early embryogenesis starting from a single cell zygote goes through rapid cell division and morphogenesis, and is morphologically characterized by pre-globular, globular, heart, torpedo and cotyledon stages. This progressive development is under the tight regulation of a complex molecular network. Harvesting sufficient early embryos at a similar stage of development is essential for investigating the cellular and molecular regulation of early embryogenesis. This is not straightforward since early embryogenesis undergoes rapid morphogenesis in a short while e.g. 8 days for Medicago truncatula to reach the early cotyledon stage. Here, we address the issue by two approaches. The first one establishes a linkage between embryo development and pod morphology in helping indicate the stage of the zygotic embryo. This is particularly based on the number of pod spirals and development of the spines. An alternative way to complement the in vivo studies is via culturing leaf explants to produce somatic embryos. The medium includes an unusual hormone combination - an auxin (1-naphthaleneacetic acid), a cytokinin (6-benzylaminopurine), abscisic acid and gibberellic acid. The different stages can be discerned growing out of the callus without dissection.

Introduction

Legumes are the third largest family of higher plants with approximately 20,000 species and the Leguminosae (or Fabaceae) family are second to cereals in area harvested and total production¹. Soybean is the third largest cultivated crop. Grain legumes provide about one-third of dietary protein and one-third of vegetable oil for human consumption². Legumes with their N₂ fixing capacity also contribute to sustainable agricultural systems. Medicago truncatula, like soybean, stores protein and oil in the cotyledons of its seeds and is a genetic and genomic legume model with considerable genetic and genomic resources^3,4.....

Protocol

1. Zygotic Embryo Development

1. Plant Material
   1. Grow the Medicago truncatula wild type Jemalong or its near isogenic, highly re-generable genotype Jemalong 2HA¹³ (known as 2HA) in a glasshouse with a 14 hr photoperiod and 23 °C/19 °C day/night temperature.
      1. Pierce the surface of the seed coat (with a 23 G needle) prior to sowing the seed so that water is allowed to enter the seed and soak in water overnight. Add enough water to fully cover the seed.
      2. Sow 3 seeds in each 15 cm diameter pot (total of 10 pots) in potting mixture (coarse sand, perlite, coir-peat (1:1:1) plus 5 g of Osmoco....

Results

For zygotic embryogenesis different pod structures corresponding to the different embryo stages are shown in Figure 1A-F while the different embryo stages are shown in Figure 2A-F. By selecting pods at the same stage, samples of ovules that are quite uniform can be obtained (Figure 3A). By using RT-qPCR embryo specific genes can be readily detected and time course studies evaluated⁹. Some additional dissection will allow for f.......

Discussion

The protocols described are relatively straight forward and allow investigation of legume embryogenesis with all the contemporary cell and molecular techniques. We recognize that there are advantages and disadvantages of both in vivo and in vitro approaches. Both allow more focus on early embryogenesis compared to culture of immature seeds¹⁹.

In the case of in vivo studies what is described is predominantly the isolation of the ovule from the pod which is .......

Materials

List of materials used in this article

Name	Company	Catalog Number	Comments
P4 medium	Sigma-Aldrich		Use Sigma-Aldrich Chemicals or other analytical grade supplier
Major salts
Minor salts
Vitamins
Agar	Bacto Laboratories	214010	Bacto agar
Plant hormones
1-Naphthaleneacetic acid	Sigma-Aldrich	N0640	Dissolve in small amount of 1 M NaOH
Abscisic acid	Sigma-Aldrich	A1049	Dissolve in small amount of 1 M NaOH
6-Benzylaminopurine	Sigma-Aldrich	B3274	Dissolve in MQ water with heating and few drops 1N HCl
Gibberellic Acid	Sigma-Aldrich	G7645	Dissolve in small amount of ethanol
Equipment
Stereo dissecting microscope	Leica	MZFLIII	Or similar
Light microscope	Zeiss	Axiophot	Or similar, with suitable optics
Digital camera	Zeiss	AxioCam HRc	Or similar
Sterilising leaves
250 mL screw cap polycarbonate container with polypropylene lid	SARSTEDT	75.9922.519	Autoclavable