Abstract R2R3-MYB genes (R2R3-MYBs) form one of the largest transcription factor gene
families in the plant kingdom, with substantial structural and functional diversity. However …

The pollen wall is a specialized extracellular cell wall matrix that surrounds male
gametophytes and plays an essential role in plant reproduction. Uncovering the …

Sex chromosomes evolved from autosomes many times across the eukaryote phylogeny.
Several models have been proposed to explain this transition, some involving male and …

Pollen development is a critical step in plant development that is needed for successful
breeding and seed formation. Manipulation of male fertility has proved a useful trait for …

Because of its significance for plant male fertility and, hence, direct impact on crop yield,
pollen exine development has inspired decades of scientific inquiry. However, the molecular …

Programmed cell death (PCD) is a collective term for diverse processes causing an actively
induced, tightly controlled cellular suicide. PCD has a multitude of functions in the …

Programmed cell death is essential for the development of multicellular organisms, yet
pathways of plant programmed cell death and its regulation remain elusive. Here we report …

Male sterility in angiosperms has wide applications in agriculture, particularly in hybrid crop
breeding and gene flow control. Microspores develop adjacent to the tapetum, a layer of …

The origin and early evolution of sex chromosomes have been hypothesized to involve the
linkage of factors with antagonistic effects on male and female function. Garden asparagus …

Controlling male fertility is an important goal for plant reproduction and selective breeding.
Hybrid vigour results in superior growth rates and increased yields of hybrids compared with …