Laboratory of Embryology and Reproductive Biology

The high plasticity of plant reproduction systems and the ability to switch morphogenetic programs for the development of reproductive structures to alternative pathways (sexual, apomixis) ensure the reliability of species reproduction and are the basis for effective biotechnologies for the creation of new forms (Batygina, 2014). This project is aimed at identifying the mechanisms of morphogenesis of plant reproductive structures that ensure their ability to switch morphogenetic development programs to alternative paths (sexual, apomixis), and thereby high plasticity of reproduction systems and reliability of reproduction of species. During the implementation of the project, new data will be obtained on morphogenesis, structural and functional organization and periodization of the development of the ovule, female gametophyte, embryo, seed in sexual and apomictic reproduction methods in a number of (model) species of flowering plants, contributing to understanding the mechanisms of regulation and switching their development programs to alternative pathways in vivo and in vitro. The analysis of various phenomena in reproduction (coenosporia of the female gametophyte, apomixis, polyembryonia, genetic heterogeneity of seeds, monocotyly) will be carried out; a number of questions about the evolution of reproductive structures and the use of embryological traits in plant taxonomy (in the light of new data on molecular phylogenetics); issues of gene regulation of gametophytic apomixis; the specificity of morphogenesis of reproductive structures in interspecific hybridization (using the example of sunflower) in order to use the obtained data in breeding programs; a research strategy in the field of conservation of biological diversity and the creation of biotechnological foundations for the reproduction of rare species of orchids and other plants has been determined.