Twin Embryos in Mutants.

Regulation of microtubule dynamics is crucial during key developmental transitions such as gametogenesis, fertilization, embryogenesis, and seed formation, where cells undergo rapid changes in shape and function. In plants, katanin plays an essential role in microtubule dynamics. This study investigates two seed developmental mutants in , named (, ) and (), which are characterized by round seeds, dwarfism, and fertility defects. Notably, exhibits a dominant inheritance pattern, whereas is recessive. Through positional cloning, we identified both mutants as new alleles of the () gene, which encodes a microtubule-severing enzyme critical for cell division and morphology. Mutations in disrupt embryo cell division and lead to the emergence of a twin embryo phenotype. Our findings underscore the essential role of KTN1 in fertility and early embryonic development, potentially influencing the fate of reproductive cells.