Are there bacteria in the ovules of Cycas revoluta? An exploratory study
Date
2021
Authors
Antony, Madeline
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Abstract
The presence of bacteria in the ovules of Cycas revoluta was examined in three individuals and five tissues via DNA extraction and qPCR. The five tissues examined were: integument, apex of megagametophyte, interior of megagametophyte and chalazal end of the megagametophyte. The extraction process used a modified CTAB method. The average extraction concentrations were 5.13 ng/?L for the nucellus, 206.22 5.13 ng/?L for the apex of the megagametophyte, 83.15 ng/?L for interior, and 249.98 ng/ul for the chalazal end. The integument samples had an extraction average concentration of 190.3 ng/ul. qPCR was done using the Ncl-I, niH, 16S and Cycas LFY primers. Each tissue type displayed amplification products for LFY, and none of the tissue types displayed significant amplification for NCI or niH. The apex and interior sections of the megagametophyte were the only two tissues to display 16S amplification. It was concluded that there were unidentified bacteria in the apex and interior sections of the megagametophyte of Cycas revoluta ovules.