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Table 1 Flower developmental landmarks.

From: Integration of tomato reproductive developmental landmarks and expression profiles, and the effect of SUN on fruit shape

Flower Development Landmarks; Buzgo et al. (2004)

Days after flower initiation in tomato

Perianth organs

Reproductive organs

   

Ovary and ovule development

Stamen and pollen development

(1) Inflorescence formation and flower initiation

1

Flattened inflorescence apex becomes dome-shaped.

  

(2) Initiation of outermost perianth organs

2

Emergence of sepal primordia in a helical pattern.

  

(3) Initiation of inner perianth organs.

4

Simultaneous emergence of petal primordia in alternating positions to the sepals. Sepals overlay the floral meristem

  

(4) Stamen initiation

5

Sepals and petals elongate.

 

Simultaneous initiation of stamen primordia.

(5) Carpel initiation

6

Petals start curling over the stamens

Carpel primordia arise.

 
 

7

 

Central column that will form the locular cavities arise.

Stamen filament start developing and two anther lobes become visible.

(6) Microsporangia initiation

8

 

Central column continues to elongate. Carpels fuse at the apex of the ovary. Style initiation. Initiation of placental development.

Primary pariety cells develop into endothecium, middle layers and tapetum. Sporogenous layers visible.

(7) Ovule initiation

9

 

Ovule primordia begin to emergence from the placenta.

The two lobes of the anther and the locule are distinguishable, microsporocyte and tapetal cells are distinguishable. Binucleate tapetal cells.

(8) Male meiosis

10

  

Microsporogenesis. Microsporocytes or microspore mother cells undergo meiosis I and II and forming tetrads.

(9) Female meiosis

11

 

Megasporogenesis. Megaspore mother cell (meiocyte or megasporocyte) is visible. Meiosis I. The nucellus is small resulting in a tenui-nucellate ovule.

 
 

12

Petals grow to the top of sepals

The single integument begins to grow over the nucellus resulting in unitegmic ovules.

Callose wall surrounding the tetrads degrades releasing the microspores. Tapetum starts degenerating.

 

13

Petals emerge from the sepals.

Micropyle development.

Free microspores are being incased in a thick polysaccharide wall; tapetum degenerated.

 

14

Onset of sepal opening

Megagametogenesis and development of the embryo sac.

Microspores come vacuolated, and begins asymmetric mitosis

 

15

  

Bi-cellular pollen grain.

 

16

 

Ovule development nears completion.

The vegetative cell and generative cell are well distinguishable

(10) Anthesis

19

Petal opening

  
  1. The timing of the landmarks described by Buzgo et al (2004) in S. pimpinellifolium accession LA1589 floral development.