The Gametophytes and Fertilization in Pseudotaxus

The development of the gametophytes and fertilization of Pseudotaxus chienii Cheng has been investigated. Pollination first occurred on April 17 (1964). The pollen grains shed at the uninucleate stage and germination on the nucellus is almost immediate. The pollen tubes approached the freenucleate female gametophyte about May 5. The spermatogenous cell is continuously enlarging with the growth of the pollen tube and two unequal sperms are formed after its division. Occasionally the small sperm may divide further into two smaller ones. During pollination the megaspore mother cell is in meiosis and 3 or 4 megaspores are formed. Generally 2 or 3 megaspores at the micropylar end are going to degenerate while the chalaza] megaspore is rapidly enlarging. After 8 successive simultaneous divisions of the functional megaspore 256 free nuclei are resulted and they are evenly distributed at the bulge of the famale gametophyte. Then the wall formation follows. Sometimes there are more than two, even as many as 5–6 gametophytes developed within a single ovule. The archegonial initials become differentiated at the apical end of the female gametophyte. They are usually single and apical, rarely lateral in position. The number of the archegonia vary from 3 to 7, usually 4–6. There are 2–8 neck cells in each archegonium which is surrounded by a layer of jacket cells. The central cell divided about May 20–26 (1964) and the division of the central cell gives rise to the egg and the ventral canal nucleus, the latter being degenerated soon. There are many proteid vacuoles near the nucleus of the matured egg. The fertilization took place about May 23–26 (1964). At first, the pollen tube discharges its contents into the egg, then the larger sperm fuses with the egg nucleus in the middle part of the archegonium. At the same time the male cytoplasm also fuses with the female cytoplasm and a layer of densely-staining neocytoplasm is formed around the fused nucleus. The smaller sperm, tube nucleus and sterile cell usually remain in the cytoplasm above the egg nucleus for some time. Based upon the observations of the development of the gametophytes and fertilization the authors conclude that Pseudotaxus is more close related to Taxus than any other member of Taxaceae.     

A Contribution to Pollination and Fertilization of Amentotaxus argotaenta

The present investigation was conducted during 1980–1982, and mater- ials collected from Jin-Fo shan (Golden Buddha Mountain), at a height of 1400-1600 m, Sichuan province, China. Pollination of Amentotaxus argotaenia began to proceed last week of May, and came into bloom the first week of June. The male strobiles were almost entirely wilting at June 12–15. Thus, florescence of Amentotaxus spread over a period of 3 weeks. While the pollen grains approaching to maturity, most of the microspores divide to form a larger tube cell and a smaller antheridial initial. In this case the mature pollen grains of Amentotaxus consist of two cells. Then pollen grains are attracted down into the pollen chamber in the apex of the nucellus after pollination. The pollen chamber of Amentotaxus in longitudinal section looks like a flask in shape and is very much similar to that of Ginkgo biloba. As pollen grains at pollen chamber begin to germinate, the antheridial initials divide again to give rise to a spermatogenous cell and a sterile cell. At first, the spermatogenous cell is of a size only 11–13 μ in diameter. When the pollen tube reaches the middle part of the nucellus, the spermatogeneous cell is of a size about 30 μ. In the middle of July, pollen tube approaches the top of the female gametophyte. In this time, the spermatogenous cell has already been mature enough and is of 58–85 μ in diameter. The nuclei of spermatogenous ceils, 30–36 μ in size, are usually lying in the lateral side of the cytoplasm at its micropylar end. From the middle to the end of July, spermatogenous cells divide to form two unequal sperms, one of which is larger than the other and is the functional one. The large sperm is almost round in shape and about 56 μ in diameter. The small sperm is elliptic in shape, non-functional, and about 33 μ in diameter. The nuclei of the large and small sperms are about 40 μ and 26 μ, respectively. In some cases there are lateral pollen tube and sperms in the ovules of Amentotaxus, or the pollen tube even grows toward the lower part of female gametophyte in the chalazal end and there are well developed sperms in such a case. In the middle of July, nucleus of the central cell divides to form a ventral canal nucleus and an egg nucleus. The former then breaks down quickly and the latter continues to develope and moves toward the central part of the egg cell gradually. It is interesting to note that there are a number of nucleolus-like grains in the cytoplasm of the egg cell in Amentotaxus. The large nueleolus-like grains contain a larger central vacuole with several smaller vacuoles surrounding it. These grains show a positive reaction and blue colour by PAS and aniline blue black or coomassie brilliant blue, respectively. The above facts show that the nucleolus-like grains contain not only po- lysaccharides, but also protein. Similar grains may also found in the developing pollen tube. This is a unique feature in Amentotaxus and even in Gymnosperms. Otherwise, there are often two groups of the dense cytoplasm under the egg nucleus in Amentotaxus. Fertilization of Amentotaxus took place around July 20–29 (1980–1982). Interval between pollination and fertilization was about two months. After male nucleus fuses entirely with the female nucleus, the zygote begins to divide by mitosis. During fertilization, in addition that the large sperm enters the egg cell and fuses with the egg nucleus, the small sperm, tube nucleus, and sterile cell are often delivered into the egg cell. But they are disintegrated gradual]y and eventually. It is worthy to note that the nucleolus-like grains and the starches in pollen tube are also released into the egg cell. Then enlargement, fusion, and budding in the nucleolus-like grains may be found within the cytoplasm of the egg cell after fertilization. The history of investigating Amentotaxus found in 1883 has been lasting a long period of 100 years. But researches in sex production has never been studied before. The present work has shown that fertilization in Araentotaxus is very much similar to that in Taxus, Pseudotaxus, and Torreya. In other words, they all belong to the same type, that is, mitosis of zygote taking place after fusion of the two sexual nuclei. This condition constitutes one of the features of Taxaceae. But fertilization in Cephalotaxaceae is different from that of Taxaceae in having mitosis taking place before fusion of the two sexual nuclei. Pollination of Amentotaxus is similar to that of Cephalotaxus with dual-cell pollen grains at shedding stage. On the other hand, interval between pollination and fertilization in Austrotaxus lasts for 13.5 months, and this is the longest one in Taxaceae, and it is similar to that of Cephalotaxus proceeding for 14 months. To sum up, from the point of view of pollination, fertilization, and embryogenesis, Amentotaxus could be considered a primitive type in Taxaceae. Perhaps an order of systematic position of the genera belonging to Taxaceae can be arranged thus: Amentotaxus, Austrotaxus, Taxus, Pseudotaxus, and Torreya. And Cephalotaxaceae may be related to Taxaceae by way of Amentotaxus.     

Studies in Fertilization of Fokienia

Material of Fokienia hodginsii was collected in 1964 from Fengyangshan (alt. 1000–1400 M) in Lungchuan county, Chekiang province. This paper deals with the fertilization in Fokienia. It includs the structure of male and female gametes as wed1 as the process of fusion of their nuclei and cytoplasm respectively. The division of the spermatogenous cell of Fokienia occurred by the end of June (1964) and two sperms similar in shape and size were formed when pollen tube reached the top of archegonia. Two equalsperms look like two hemispherical bodies conjoined togather. The sperm possesses cell wall and is about 65 μ in diameter. Its nucleus is rather large and about 45–50 μ in diameter. There is a nucleolus in the nucleus. Outside the nucleus the dense cytoplasm forms the deep colored zone, some 10 μ in thickness. This zone is separated from the nucleus by a narrow perinuclear zone, and from the plasmalemma by a marginal zone. The perinuclear zone is about 2 μ thick, and the mariginal zone is from 3 to 4 μ thick. Both zones have transparent cytoplasm. When the archegonium is formed, the central cell has a small nucleus which is located below the neck ceils. At the middle of June (1964), the central cell divides to form the ventral nucleus and the egg nucleus. The egg nucleus sites primarily at the upper part of archegoninm and has only one nucleolus. Then the egg nucleus increases gradually in sim and moves to the central part of the archegoninm. In mature archegonium there are usually 4–5, rarely 6–7 nucleoli in the egg nucleus, each of them is about 15 μ in diameter. The egg cell in Fokienia hodginsii is about 500 in length. The female nucleus is larger than the male one. After egg cell matures, its cytoplasm increases gradually, while the central vacuole decreases gradually and almost disappears completely after fertilization. It is interesting to note that there are 1–2 dense cytoplasm masses at the upper or lower part of egg nucleus. The shape of the mass is similar to that of the egg nucleus but no membrane is formed. These cytoplasm masses are about 50–70 μ in diameter in some cases. The fertilization of Fokienia took place at the end of June when the growing tip of pollen tube had reached the top of the archegoninm. Then the neck cells become disorganized and degenerated. It is possible that all the cytoplasmic contents of pollen tubes are released into the archegoninm. Before fertilization, the cytoplasm around the sperms and sterile cell and tube nucleus are in front of these two sperms. Then the sperms separate from each other and come down into the cytoplasm of the egg. When the mede nucleus contacts with the egg nucleus, both become flattened along their contact surface. Then the nuclear membranes of both sperm and egg nuclei become ultimately disintegrated. Thus the fusion process is complete. However, it is nia, though the opposite is the case in an exceptional example. When the sperm nucleus passes into the cytoplasm of egg cell, its cytopasm is released inside the archegonium along with it. During the course of fusion of the male and female nuclei, tile fertilized nucleus is surrounded by both female and male cytoplasm. Thus the male cytoplasm along with the peripheral cytoplasm of the egg cell invests the two nuclei lying in contact and forms a dense neocytoplasm. When the zygote divides, the neoeytoplasm is full of the starch grains and a dense cytoplasm sheath is formed. After fertilization, the fused nucleus moves toward the base of the egg cell. It seems that the movement of the fused nucleus is not a simple mechanical movement but turned over repeatedly toward the base of the arehegonium. Sometimes the position of the sperm and egg nuclei makes a turn of 180. At the same time the track of the fertilized egg nucleus with vacuoles in the archegonium may be traced. After zygote moves into basal part of the archegonium, first intranuclear mitosis occurs. The nuclear envelop of zygote disappears gradually at the telophase of the first mitosis. Then division of the free nuclei of proembryo follows. From fertilization to the stage of proembryo formation, the second sperm may sometimes enter into the cytoplasm of the egg cell. Mitosis of the second sperm nucleus may take place in the upper part of the archegonium. In addition, there are often several supernmnerary nuclei (as many as 7–8 in number) in the same egg cell. These nuclei are also surrounded by dense cytoplasm. They may persist for some time and be recognizable at somewhat later stages of the proembryo or even after the elongated suspensors are formed. In some cases, there are some cell groups above the upper tier of proembryo. These cell groups are also surrounded by dense cytoplasm. Either the supernumerary nuclei or cells are surrounded by the dense cytoplasm. Probably they are derived from the mitosis or amitosis of the second sperm. Investigations on submicroscopic structures of sperm and egg in relation to the fertilization of Cupressaceae have been carried out extensively during the last decade. The fate of male cytoplasm has been debated for a long time and this problem attracted attention again in the nineteen seventies. At last the concept of neocytoplasm has been established soundly based upon the information from observation of electron microphotographs. The neocytoplasm is also visible under the light microscope though the components are not recognizable. The sperms of Fokienia are similar to those of Cupressus funebris, Juniperus communis, Sabina virginiana, Tetraclinis articulata, Chamaecyparis pisifera as well as the genus Thujopsis and others. Two sperms are all effective in fertilization and this is the common phenomenon of the family Gupressaceae.     

红松配子体的发育过程

红松是我国主要用材树种,材质优良。我国主要分布在长白山和小兴安岭,随着森林工业的发展,大面积的原始森林迅速减少,人工更新日趋重要。在生产中采用种子育苗,因此对红松种子的发育规律应全面掌握,以便为种子园建立、良种选育采取有效措施提供理论依据。根据国内外有关报导,红松雌雄配子的形成、受精作用已有一定的研究^[14、15],但这些研究只侧重在小孢子母细胞的减数分裂和受精作用。故对雌雄配子体的发育过程仍需深入研究,尤其是授粉后的雄配子体发育和精子进入颈卵器的过程,均未见详细报导。     

Fertilization in Pinus Bungeana

Pinus bungeana is a species endemic to China and as yet its embryology has not been reported. The present paper deals with its process of fertilization in some details. 1. The development of the male gamete and the structure of the archegonium. The spermatogenous cell has already divided into two uniqual male gametes in the middle of May (in 1978, at Peking), about ten days before fertilization. Both sperms are spheroidal to ellipsoidal. The larger sperm is about 94 × 65 μm and the smaller one, about 72 × 58 μm in size. As the pollen tube approaches the archegonium the two sperms move toward the apex of the tube together with the remaining contents. Generally the larger sperm precedes the smaller one. The cytoplasmic contents also contain a sterile cell, 3—43×2—29 μm in size and a tube nuleus, 15—30 μm in diamter, besides the sperms. A mass of starch grains of more or less similar to sperm in size is also included in the contents of the pollen tube. Generally 3—4, even up to 7–8 pollen grains germinate normally within an ovule. Therefore, many sperms (up to 14—16) may be present on the same nucellus. The archegonium is elongato-ellipsoidal, about 870 ×500 μm in size. Arehegonia are single, 2—(3—5) in number, with 2 neck cells and a layer of jacket cells. The central cell divided in the middle of May and gave rise to the ventral canal cell and the egg. As the archegonium matures the cytoplasm becomes radiate fibrillae around the egg nucleus. The egg nucleus is large, 150—226 μm in diameter. One large nucleolus, 22—25 μm in diameter and sometimes up to 50; small nueleoli are present within the nucleus. 2. Fertilization Pollination takes place in the first week of May and fertilization will be effected from the end of May to the first week of June of next year. The interval between pollinatin and fertilization in P. bungeana is about thirteen months and the lapse of time is almost similar to most of the Pinus so far recorded. When the pollen tube contacts the archegonium through the neck cells all its contents are discharged into the egg cell. Usually the larger sperm fuses with the egg nucleus and the rest of the contents stays in the upper part of the egg cell. It is interesting to note that the nonfunctional second sperm also moves toward the egg nucleus and often divides by mitosis; and this phenomenon is not reported elsewhere. At the earlier stage of the fusion between male and female nuclei the male nucleoplasm is dense and finely granular while the female nucleoplasm is thin and coarsely granular, hence the boundary between them is very clear. The nuclear membranes of both nuclei persist for a long time. After the male nucleus sinks into the female nucleus completely, both nuclei begin to divide and enter into the prophase and then the metaphase simultaneously. By this time the paternal and maternal chromosome sets with their spindles still remain at certain distance from each other. Then the paternal chromosomes with their spindle move gradually toward the maternal ones. At first a multipolar common spindle appears as the maternal and paternal spindles with their chromosomes merge together. Finally a regular bipolar spindle is formed and both the maternal and paternal chromosomes become arranged on the equatorial plate. In the meantime, the process of fusion is complete and the zygote is at the stage of metaphase. At the moment the spindle looks greater in width than in length, being about 80×65—70 μm in size. 3. Supernumerary nuclei and sperms. The ventral canal cell degenerates soon after its formation. While the supernumerary sperms divide usually after their entrance into the egg cell. Therefore, the supernumerary nuclei probably derive directly from the smaller sperms or indirectly from mitoses of the larger ones Generally the nucleoplasm of the supernumerary nuclei is rather thin while the nucleoplasm of the undivided sperms is rather dense. This shows that the former is in the state of degeneration. The supernumerary nuclei of P. bungeana are as many as 7, their usual size being 43—58×32—43 μm. In the upper part of some egg cells there are still secondary smaller sperms about the size of 36 × 29 μm, Their volume is just about half of the usual smaller sperm. Probably they are derived from the division of the smaller sperms.     

FERTILIZATION IN BARLEY

The mature embryo sac of barley consists of an egg, two synergids, a central cell, and up to 100 antipodal cells. At shedding the male gametophyte is 3-celled, consisting of a vegetative cell with a large amount of starch and two sperms having PAS+ boundaries. Before pollination the nucleus and cytoplasm of each synergid appear normal. After pollination the nucleus and cytoplasm of one synergid undergo degeneration. The pollen tube grows along the surface of the integument of the ovule, passes through the micropyle, and enters the degenerate synergid through the filiform apparatus. The pollen tube discharges the vegetative nucleus, two cellular sperms, and a variable amount of starch into the degenerate synergid. Soon after deposition the sperms migrate by an unknown mechanism to the chalazal end of the degenerate synergid. Sperm nuclei then enter the cytoplasm of the egg and central cell, ultimately resulting in the formation of the zygote and primary endosperm nucleus, respectively. Sperm boundaries do not enter egg or central cell, but it was not possible to determine the fate of other sperm components. Degenerate vegetative and synergid nuclei remain in the synergid after fertilization, constituting what are considered to be X-bodies in barley. The second synergid degenerates during early embryogeny.     

Ovule,Female and Male Gametophyte and Fertilization of Kingdonia uniflora Balfour F. et W. W. Smith

The structure of ovule, female and male gametophyte, double fertilization and the distrubution of starch grains during the fertilization have been studied. The main results are as follows: ( 1 ) Ovule The ovule is anatropous, unitegmic and tenuinucellate. The nucetlus appears cylindric, since megaspores and embryo sac development, its internal cells of nucellus become disorganized, so that only a single layer of epidermal cells remains toward the side of the micropyle, On the other hand, the integument is not as long as nucellus, as a result micropyle is not formed. And no vascular bundle is found in the integument. (2) Female gametophyte The mature embryo sac is slender and is composed of an egg cell, two synergids, a central cell and three antipodal cells. The egg cell is situated slightly away from the tip of embryo sac. Some of them contain starch grains. Synergids occupy the tip of embryo sac. Its wall at micropylar region appears irregular in thickenes and irregular in ingrowths to form the filiform apparatus. The centrateell is very large, and strongly vacuolated Two polar nuclei come to contact closely with each other, but not fuse, or to fuse into a large secondary nucleus before fertilization. The polar nuclei or the secondary nucleus are usually situated at the middle-lower position of the central cell or nearer to the chalazal end above the antipodal cell. It is different from egg cell, no starch grains are found here. In most embryo sacs three antipodal cells are found. They are not as large as those in other plants of Ranunculaceae. But six antipodal cells or the antipodal cell with two nuclei may rarely be found. Like synergid, the wall of them appears not only irregularly thickened, but clearly with irregular ingrowths. In a few antipodal cells the starch garins are usually found near the nucleus. By the end of fertilization, antipodal cells become disintegrated. (3) Male gametophyte Most pollen grains are two-celled when shedding, and rich in starch grains. A few of them contain single nucleus or three-celled. (4) The double fertilization The fertilization of Kingdonia unifiora Balfour f. et W, W. Smith is wholly similar to some plants of Ranunculaceae studied. First, the pollen tube penetrates a degenerating synergid. And the pollen tube discharges its contents with two sperm nuclei into the degenerating synergid cell. One of the two sperms fuses with the nucleus of the egg, and the other fuses with two polar nuclei or the secondary nucleus of the central cell. If one sperm nucleus at first fuses with one of the polar nuclei, and then the fertilized polar nuclei again fuses with other polar nucleus. Secondly, the fertilization of the polar nuclei or the secondary nuclei completes earlier than that of the egg. The primary endosperm nucleus begins to divide earlier than the zygote. It seems that one of the sperm nuclei come to contact with egg nucleus, the other has already fused with polar nuclei or the secondary nucleus. The zygote with a single nucleolus appears until the endosperm with 16–20 cell. Thirdly, before and after fertilization there are one to some small nucleoli in egg nucleus and polar nuclei or secondary nucleus. However they increase in quantity from the beginning of the fusion of male nucleis. These nucleoli quite differ from male nucleoli by their small size, and most of them disappear at the end of fertilization. It may be concluded that the small nucleoli increase in quantity is related to the fusion of male and female nuclei. In the duration of fertilization, in ovule starch distribution is in the basal region of integument. But in embryo sac, onlysome egg cells, or zygotes contain starch grains, a part of which was brought in by pollen tube. Sometimes the starch grains are found in some synergids and antipodal cells. No starch grains are found in the central cell.     

水稻双受精过程的细胞形态学及时间进程的观察

应用常规石蜡切片和荧光显微镜观察水稻（Oryza sativa）受精过程中雌雄性细胞融合时的形态特征及时间进程,确定合子期,为花粉管通道转基因技术的实施提供理论依据。结果表明：授粉后,花粉随即萌发,花粉管进入羽毛状柱头分支结构的细胞间隙,继续生长于花柱至子房顶部的引导组织的细胞间隙中,而后进入子房,在子房壁与外珠被之间的缝隙中向珠孔方向生长,花粉与花粉管均具有明显的绿色荧光。花粉管经珠孔及珠心表皮细胞间隙进入一个助细胞,释放精子。精子释放前,两极核移向卵细胞的合点端：两精子释放于卵细胞与中央细胞的间隙后,先后脱去细胞质,然后分别移向卵核和极核,移向卵核的精核快于移向极核的精核：精核与两极核在向反足细胞团方向移动的过程中完成雌雄核融合。大量图片显示了雌雄性核融合的详细过程以及多精受精现象。水稻受精过程经历的时间表如下：授粉后,花粉在柱头萌发：花粉萌发至花粉管进入珠孔大约需要0．5小时：授粉后0．54,时左右,花粉管进入一个助细胞,释放精子：授粉后0．5—2．5小时,精卵融合形成合子：授粉后约10．0小时,合子第1次分裂,合子期为授粉后2．5-10．04,时：授粉后1．0-3．04,时,精核与两极核融合：授粉后约5．0小时,初生胚乳核分裂。’     

水稻双受精过程的细胞形态学及时间进程的观察

应用常规石蜡切片和荧光显微镜观察水稻(Oryz a sativa)受精过程中雌雄性细胞融合时的形态特征及时间进程, 确定合子期, 为花粉管通道转基因技术的实施提供理论依据。结果表明: 授粉后, 花粉随即萌发, 花粉管进入羽毛状柱头分支结构的细胞间隙, 继续生长于花柱至子房顶部的引导组织的细胞间隙中, 而后进入子房, 在子房壁与外珠被之间的缝隙中向珠孔方向生长, 花粉与花粉管均具有明显的绿色荧光。花粉管经珠孔及珠心表皮细胞间隙进入一个助细胞, 释放精子。精子释放前, 两极核移向卵细胞的合点端; 两精子释放于卵细胞与中央细胞的间隙后, 先后脱去细胞质, 然后分别移向卵核和极核, 移向卵核的精核快于移向极核的精核; 精核与两极核在向反足细胞团方向移动的过程中完成雌雄核融合。大量图片显示了雌雄性核融合的详细过程以及多精受精现象。水稻受精过程经历的时间表如下: 授粉后, 花粉在柱头萌发; 花粉萌发至花粉管进入珠孔大约需要0.5小时; 授粉后0.5小时左右, 花粉管进入一个助细胞, 释放精子; 授粉后0.5-2.5小时, 精卵融合形成合子; 授粉后约10.0小时, 合子第1次分裂, 合子期为授粉后2.5-10.0小时; 授粉后1.0-3.0小时, 精核与两极核融合; 授粉后约5.0小时, 初生胚乳核分裂。     

Observations on Fertilization in Sugar Beet

The whole process of double fertilization in sugar beet has been observed, the main results are as follows: About 2 hours after pollination, the pollen grains germinate, the sperms in the pollen tube are long-oval. 15 hours after pollination, the pollen tube destroys a synergid and releases two sperms on one side or at the chalazal end of the egg cell. The sperms are spherical each having a cytoplasmic sheath. 17 hours after pollination, one sperm enters the egg cell, and the sperm nucleus fuses with the egg nucleus rapidly. 21 hours after pollination, the zygote is formed. In the meantime, the primary endosperm nucleus has divided into two free endosperm nuclei. 25 hours after pollination, the zygote begins to divide, forming a two-celled proembryo. The dormancy stage of the zygote is about 4 hours. In the meantime the endosperm is at the stage of four free nuclei. 17 hours after pollination, the sperm nucleus comes into contact and fuses with the secondary nucleus. The sperm nucleus fuses with the secondary nucleus, faster than the sperm with the egg. he first division of the primary endosperm nucleus is earlier than that of the zygote, it takes place about 20 hours after pollination, the dormancy stage of the primary endosperm is about 2 hours. The endosperm is free nuclear. The fertilization of sugar beet belongs to premitotic type of syngamy. From the stage of zygote to the two-celled proembryo, it can be seen that addition- al sperms enter the embryo sac, but polyspermy has not been observed yet.     

喉毛花的胚胎学研究

本文首次系统地记载了喉毛花属的胚胎发育过程,并以此为依据讨论了该属的分类等级和系统位置。喉毛花花药四室;药壁发育属双子叶型;绒毡层单型起源,细胞具单核,属腺质绒毡层;一层中层细胞;花药壁表皮层宿存,纤维状加厚和膨大;药室内壁减缩。小孢子母细胞减数分裂为同时型,四分体的排列为四面体型;成熟花粉为3-细胞型。子房为2心皮、l室,典型的侧膜胎座,胚珠8列,胚珠胎座靠近两心皮腹缝线。薄珠心,单珠被,倒生胚珠。大孢子母细胞减数分裂形成的4个大孢子呈直列式排列,其中合点端的大孢子具功能。胚囊发育为蓼型。极核在受精前融合为次生核。反足细胞宿存、分裂为8～12个,每个细胞均多核和异常膨大,反足细胞形成的吸器明显。异花传粉,珠孔受精。花粉管通过破坏一助细胞进入胚囊。受精作用属于有丝分裂前配子体融合类型。胚乳发育为核型,每核含2～3核仁。胚胎发育为茄型酸浆I变型,成熟种子胚只发育至球形胚阶段。反足细胞在合子分裂之后才开始退化,在胚的发育过程中反足细胞在胚乳层之外形成一层染色深、类似“外胚乳”的结构。比较喉毛花、龙胆属、假龙胆属以及肋柱花属的胚胎学特征表明喉毛花与假龙胆属的亲缘关系最近,在分类等级上作为一个独立的属较为合适,在系统位置上它比假龙胆属更为原始。     

LIGHT MICROSCOPE AND ULTRASTRUCTURAL STUDIES OF THE MALE GAMETOPHYTE IN GINKGO BILOBA: THE SPERMATOGENOUS CELL

A light microscope and ultrastructural study was made of the pollen tube of Ginkgo biloba, with special emphasis given to the spermatogenous cell that gives rise to two motile sperms. Just prior to the mitotic division that results in the formation of two sperms, the spermatogenous cell consists of a large nucleus, two blepharoplasts, two large osmiophilic globules, and a conspicuous lipo-protein body. Other organelles in the cytoplasm include numerous electron-dense proplastids (with some lamellar development), mitochondria, small vacuoles, and lipid bodies. Ribosomes are present in abundance, but endoplasmic reticulum and dictyosomes are sparse. The nucleus, prior to mitosis, is relatively Feulgen-negative, due undoubtedly to the diffuse distribution of DNA. Each blepharoplast, the main organelle of interest, is nearly spherical, measures 3.5–4.5 μm in diam, and supports about 1,000 probasal bodies. The interior of a blepharoplast consists of an electron-dense matrix and of less dense regions which appear to be infiltrated by a network of microtubules. Each probasal body is composed of a cylinder of nine separate tubules (singlets) at the basal or proximal end. The cylinder becomes elaborated distally into nine pairs of subtubules (doublets) and then into nine sets of subtubules (triplets). A central tubule is present the entire length of the probasal body. Some of the subtubules, as well as microtubules from the interior of the blepharoplast, extend into the cytoplasm and probably constitute the “astral rays” as seen with the light microscope. Comparisons are made with other published accounts of the organization of blepharoplasts in plants and of centrosomes and centrioles in animals.     

瘿椒树大小孢子发生及雌雄配子体发育解剖学研究

采用半薄切片和常规石蜡切片技术,对瘿椒树(Tapiscia sinensis Oliver)的大小孢子发生及雌雄配子体发育过程进行观察研究。结果显示:(1)瘿椒树花药壁发育为基本型,周缘细胞平周分裂2次成为4层细胞,其中有些细胞仍能进行一次平周分裂,最后分别发育成药室内壁、中层和绒毡层,绒毡层为分泌型。(2)小孢子母细胞减数分裂过程中的胞质分裂为同时型,产生四面体型四分体。雄花成熟花粉为二细胞型,两性花花粉败育。(3)子房为1室1胚珠,双珠被,厚珠心,基生胎座,倒生型胚珠。大孢子母细胞减数分裂产生三分体和少量线形四分体,合点端大孢子为功能大孢子。其雌配子体发育为蓼型。成熟胚囊里,反足细胞早期退化,极核融合为次生核移向合点端,附着在合点端珠心细胞分裂形成的突起上,为胚囊发育的特殊结构。结果表明,瘿椒树花为单性花,且雌雄异株,比省沽油科其它属植物较为进化。因此,支持将瘿椒树属(Tapiscia)提升为瘿椒树科(Tapisciaceae)。     

Invvestigations on Early Embryogenesis of Actinidia chinensis Planch var. chinensis

This paper deals with early embryogenesis of Actinidia chinensis var. chinensis. 1. Ovary superior consists of 34—45 carpels. Each carpel contains 11–45 ovules. The ovule is uni-integument and tenuinucellar. The ovule is anatropous. The archesporium is formed by a single cell, and directly develops into megaspore mother cell. Sometimes the archesporium consists of 2–3 cells, but only one of them develops into megaspore mother cell and the others are degenerated. 2. The mature pollen grain is two-celled and the embryo sac belongs to olygonum type. In most embryo sacs two polar nuclei are fused before fertilization. One of the synergids was destroyed as the pollen tube penetrated into embryo sac the other one disappeared after fertilization. In most cases the antipodal cells became degenerated in fertilization process, only some remained until the first division of primary endosperm nucleus. 3. In Beijing area the double fertilization of Actinidia chinensis occurred 30–72 hours after pollination. In the fertilization one sperm fused with egg nucleus and the other sperm fused with the secondary nucleus as usual. The fusion of the secondary nucleus with sperm was in advance of the fusion of the egg nudeus. 4. The endosperm is cellular type.     

七筋姑的大小孢子发生雌雄配子体发育及多糖物质的动态

七筋姑(Clintonia udensis Trautv. et Mey)具倒生胚珠、双珠被、薄珠心、单个孢原。大孢子母细胞减数分裂后形成1 3排列,合点端三核退化,珠孔端有功能的大孢子核进行两次有丝分裂。成熟胚囊具5核或6核,即1组卵器、1上极核、合点端的1个或2个退化核。胚囊发育为四孢子、高度退化的贝母型。花药壁由表皮、药室内壁、两层中间层及绒毡层组成,发育属单子叶型。绒毡层解体方式为分泌型。小孢子母细胞减数分裂时胞质分裂为连续型。二轴对称式四分体,2-细胞成熟花粉粒。组织化学表明:大小孢子发生及雌雄配子体形成过程中的不溶性多糖颗粒的分布呈现规律性变化。     

Studies on the Development of Gametophytes in Cornus officinalis (Cornaceae)

The floral bud of Cornus officinalis Sieb. et Zucc. began to differentiate at the end of April. In the beginning of November, female and male gametophytes reached their maturation. The flowers fell off in the following March. The wall of the microsporangium comprised epidermis, endothecium, two or three middle layers and a single layer of amoeboid tapetum with two nuclei. The extra-tapetal membrane was formed during the later stage of the development of anther. Meiosis of microspore mother-cell was normal and cytokinesis was of the simultaneous type. The tetrad was tetrahedral in shape. The mature pollen grains were 2-celled and 3-colporate. The ovule was unitegminous and tenuinucellate. During the development of the ovule, some special structures were formed, e. g. hypostase and obturator which originated from the integument. A single archesporium differentiated immediately below the nucellar epidermis. It functioned directly as the megaspore mother-celL This cell under went meiosis to form a linear tetrad. The chalazal megaspore was functional. The development of the embryo sac was conformed as the polygonum type. Two polar nuclei fused into the secondary nucleus and 'three antipodal cells degenerated soon after the embryo sac reached its maturation, at that time the female gametophyte had become an embryo sac which consisted of only four cells each with a nucleus just before two months of blooming. The nuclei of some synergids located in the chalazal part of the cells. Contrarily, the micropylar past of the synergids were occupied by a large vacuole. The secondary nucleus was usually located in the chalazal part of the embryo sac.     

Tracing pollen nuclei in the ovary and ovule of Gasteria verrucosa (Mill.) H. Duval after pollination with DAPI-stained pollen

Summary The addition of DAPI particles to the stigma exudate of Gasteria results in the labelling of the pollen nuclei. By means of epifluorescence microscopy and clearing of the ovule, the labelled nuclei of the sperm cells and, subsequently, the zygotic nucleus can be observed. The method was used in a cross-pollination with low seed setting to examine different types of penetration and transport of the pollen tube nucleus and sperm cell nuclei. More than one pollen tube can penetrate, but generally only one set of sperm cell nuclei is accepted.     

Studies on Fertilization and Embryogenesis of Red Vinespinach (Basella rubra L.)

This paper presents detailed report on the process of fertilization and the develop- ment of embryo and endosperm of Basella rubra L. The results obtained are summarized as follows: About 4–6 hours after anthesis a great deal pollen grains germinated on the stig- ma; 6–11 hours, the pollen tube passed through the style; 11–16 hours, the pollen tube reached the ovary cavity. About 16–18 hours, one sperm nucleus entered into the egg and the other one entered into the secondary nucleus. In most cases, after 16–24 hours the double fertilization had completed. After 2–8 days, two-celled proembryo was first shown. Finally, the proembryo gave rise to multicellular globular embryo proper. The development of the embryo of Basella rubra L. conforms to the Asterad type. Whether the Asterad type had a high frequency needs further to be studied. Although the fertilization of the sperm nucleus with the secondary nucleus began later, the fusion of two sexual nuclei and the development of the endosperm proceeded often quickly. After 20 hours, the free nuclei period began, and after 2–4 days the free nuclei of endosperm were rapidly formed. The endosperm of Basella rubra L. is a nuclear type. And at the time When the seed had ripened the endosperm tissues were all absorbed by the developing embryo. The author observed that there are different distributions of the vegetative nucleus and two sperms in the pollen tube, and that two sperms entered a egg or secondary nucleus. The changes of the starch accumulated and distributed et al. in the floral organs are also studied and discussed.     

Fertilization of Barley (Hordeutn distichutn L.)

Fertilization of barley has been studied and photographically recorded. The pollen grain germinates almost immediately after attaching itself to the stigma, pollen tube reaches the embryo sac after 20–30 minutes (temperature 26°C). One of the sperms permeates immediately to the oosphere, the other joins polar nuclei migrating from the oosphere to antipodal cells after the discharge of pollen tube content. Fertilization of the polar nucleus occurs in most cases at the antipodal cells which have pronounced haustorial character. In triple fusion polar nuclei do not usually fuse prior to fertilization. However, some exceptions were noted: sometimes the fertilization takes place after the fusion of polar nuclei or during the fusion. Being slower, pre-mitotic fertilization of the egg cell could be studied in greater detail.     

Pollen Bud Formation and its Role in Ophiorrhiza spp.

The anther in Ophiorrhiza is dithecous and tetralocular, itsdevelopment being of the dicotyledonous type. The anther wallcomprises epidermis, endothecium, middle layer and secretorytapetum. The pollen grains are tricolpate and triporate. Themicrospore nucleus undergoes division to form a vegetative nucleusand a generative nucleus and protrusions (pollen buds) are formedfrom the germ pores after the first division of the microsporenucleus. The vegetative nucleus moves into one of these budsor first breaks into a number of irregularly sized nuclear particleswhich enter into one, two or into all three buds, where theydegenerate. Then the pollen buds are separated and the generativenucleus divides inside the pollen tube to form two sperms. Ophiorrhiza harrisiana, Ophiorrhiza hirsutula, microsporogenesis, pollen buds, vegetative nucleus