Dissertation
The role of AGC kinases and auxin in male fertility
The thesis is about how auxin and AGC kinases regulate male fertility. The main AGC kinases studied in this thesis is PDK1, PDK2 and AGC1.5, AGC1.7.
- Author
- T. Zhao
- Date
- 22 October 2025
- Links
- Thesis in Leiden Repository
Loss of function of PDK1/2 showed reduced fertility with precoccious pollen germination on anther and twisted pollen tube growth. AGC1.5/7 were found downstream of PDK1 inhibiting precocious pollen germination and supporting polarized pollen tube growth. pdk1/2 double mutant also showed reduced filament elongation, which was proved due to the impaired auxin transport in filaments. The short filaments of pdk1/2 can be rescued by the downstream AGC kinases PAX and D6PK. Furthermore, we found auxin was accumulated in the pollen and anthers of pdk1/2, however this is not the reason for precocious germination. Together, these insights advance our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying plant reproduction and provide a framework for future studies on fertility regulation and crop improvement.