THE CYTOLOGY OF POLLEN ABORTION IN S CYTOPLASMIC MALE-STERILE CORN ANTHERS

The anther development of the S male-sterile cytoplasm and the fertile maintainer (N) cytoplasm versions of corn inbred W182BN and the restored S cytoplasm version of inbred NY821LERf was studied by light and electron microscopy and compared to pollen abortion in the C and T types of male-sterile cytoplasms. The S anthers did not deviate from the non-male sterile (N) anthers until a very late stage of pollen development. Tapetal cells developed and disappeared normally in the S version which differentiates this cytoplasm from the C and T types. Although some modified membranous structures were seen in a higher frequency in the large vacuole of the sterile S pollen than in the N and restored S counterparts, the mitochondria and other organelles in the S pollen appeared normal up to the time of pollen abortion. Pollen abortion in the S cytoplasm did not occur until the developing pollen was nearly mature. At this time the pollen grains disintegrated abruptly but other anther tissues appeared unaltered. The male sterility of S plants appeared to be determined by the pollen itself without external influence from the tapetum.     

白菜细胞核雄性不育花药的细胞化学观察

对一种由一对隐性基因控制的白菜细胞核雄性不育和可育株的花药进行了细胞学和组织化学研究。种子播种后,有1/4植株为不育株,其余的为可育株。通过对不育株和可育株花药发育的细胞学观察,确认不育花粉的败育发生在小孢子发育时期。用组织化学的方法研究了可育株和不育株花药发育过程中的多糖和脂类的分布动态,发现在减数分裂前,可育花药和不育花药的药隔细胞中都储藏了大量的淀粉粒。二者的差异仅是不育花药的绒毡层细胞液泡化明显。在减数分裂后的小孢子发育时期,可育花药的绒毡层细胞具有将药隔细胞中的淀粉粒多糖吸收并转化成脂类的功能,小孢子及以后的二胞花粉中也积累了大量的脂类储藏物质在不育花药中,虽然减数分裂后药隔细胞中的淀粉粒也都消失,但绒毡层细胞中的脂类物质相比很少,同时绒毡层细胞显示了明显的多糖反应,表明不育花药的绒毡层细胞将糖类转化为脂类的功能受阻。在小孢子的表面有些脂类物质,但在细胞质中却没有脂类积累。这一结果暗示在该种白菜细胞核雄性不育株中,由于花药绒毡层细胞转换多糖为脂类的功能失常,导致了小孢子的败育。     

LEVER ACTION ANTHERS AND THE FORCIBLE SHEDDING OF POLLEN IN TORENIA (SCROPHULARIACEAE)

The anthers of Torenia fournieri were found to shed pollen forcibly by lever action. Anther structure was modified for this function by a flangelike outgrowth of the lateral pollen sac wall forming a lever. When pressed, this lever causes an infolding of the thinner, subadjacent, pollen sac wall forcing pollen from the stomium. A force of 1–1.5 g pressing against the four levers of an anther pair resulted in the forcible shedding of 2,000–3,000 pollen grains in two parallel rows. During the 2-day anthesis the flowers shift from functioning as males to hermaphroditic outcrossers, and yet only have a pollen:ovule ratio of 98.6, a ratio more indicative of facultative autogamy. The outermost pair of anthers functions on the first day of anthesis, while the second, inner pair functions on both days. In each flower, the 2-day anther pair produces approximately twice as many pollen grains as the 1 -day anther pair, a pollen production highly correlated with the length of their functional lives. This difference in pollen production is apparent in the larger size of the 2-day anthers, a size difference that first appears with the initiation of the anther primordia.     

黄花烟草单倍体植株花粉粒败育的观察

甘肃黄花烟草未授粉子房培养的愈伤组织再生的单倍体植株(2n:2x=24),生长矮小,叶片和花也较小。花粉粒有两种类型:小型直径平均17.41微米,大型直径平均42.37微米,都无沟槽和萌发孔,外壁雕纹显著增厚。二倍体植株正常花粉粒直径平均26.28微米。根据单倍体植株花粉粒败育过程的细胞学观察,约80%的花粉母细胞减数分裂正常,形成四分体,进一步发育成小型的单核花粉粒;但停滞在单核阶段,不能进入有丝分裂,以致不能形成成熟的二核花粉粒;最后细胞核和细胞质解体消失,成为空壳的败育花粉粒。另外的20%的花粉母细胞,由于1—2个落后染色体的存在,减数分裂不能正常进行,变为一种大型的四核花粉粒;最后细胞核和细胞质解体消失,成为空壳的败育花粉粒。     

ORGANELLE SIZE AND NUMBER IN FERTILE AND T-CYTOPLASMIC MALE-STERILE CORN

Anthers of inbred F₄₄ fertile (N) and cytoplasmic male-sterile (T) corn plants (Zea mays L.) were compared cytologically. No differences between fertile and sterile anthers were observed in size and number of mitochondria or plastids until after the start of anther degeneration. A rapid division of mitochondria was observed, however, in the tapetum and sporogenous cells of both fertile and sterile anthers during early growth stages. This rapid increase in mitochondrial numbers per cell (some 20-to 40-fold) preceded tapetal breakdown in sterile anthers and did not occur in other anther cells or in plastids. Limited observations on the megagametophyte and nucellus revealed that mitochondria in ovules remain relatively constant in size and number during gametogenesis and do not undergo degeneration.     

大麦核质互作型雄性不育系花粉败育过程的细胞学研究(简报)

雄性不育系在作物的杂种优势利用中具有重要的价值。研究其花粉败育过程有利于了解败育机理,并为化学杀雄和化学保雄提供理论     

EVOLUTION OF POLYSPORANGIATE ANTHERS IN ONAGRACEAE

The microsporogenous tissue of at least some species of all 17 genera of Onagraceae is divided by transverse septa composed only of tapetum or of both tapetum and parenchyma. The presence of these septa apparently constitutes a distinctive characteristic of the family. In Calylophus sect. Salpingia, Gaura, Clarkia, Heterogaura, and two unrelated species of Ludwigia, the septa are transverse and mostly parenchymatous. In Hauya and Calylophus sect. Calylophus, similar transverse septa together with vertical ones divide the sporogenous tissue into many small spheroidal or ellipsoidal packets. The condition in which occasional tapetal septa divide the sporogenous tissue is clearly the ancestral one in Onagraceae. Polysporangiate anthers divided by parenchymatous septa have evolved independently at least twice each in the branches leading to Ludwigia and to all other members of the family, for a total of no less than four times. Based on this feature and the unique pattern of histogenesis of their integuments, Hauya (despite its retention of many plesiomorphic features), Calylophus, and Gaura may well be directly related to one another.     

CYTOLOGY AND MORPHOGENESIS IN THE RHIZOMORPH OF ARMILLARIA MELLEA

Aided by the techniques of thin sectioning and electron microscopy, the apical region of the rhizomorph of Armillaria mellea has been examined. This region is composed of concentric zones of morphologically distinct tissues derived from a subapical meristematic zone designated the apical center. Meristematic activity is of two types: (1) primary, localized in the apical center, in which new hyphal elements are formed from apical initials, and (2) secondary, localized in the lateral regions of the apex, in which elaboration of the hyphal elements by means of elongation and secondary crosswall formation takes place. From these meristematic zones the tissues of the mature rhizomorph are derived and include: (a) peripheral hyphae, (b) cortex, (c) subcortex, and (d) primary and secondary medulla. The manner of differentiation of an apical initial appears unique and involves synchronous nuclear divisions accompanied by segmentation in many planes. The result of this activity is the formation of multinucleate hyphae. Apical initials are usually highly cytoplasmic and possess peculiar non-membrane-bound fibrous bundles, but in all other respects they resemble the hyphae of most Basidiomycetes thus far examined with the electron microscope.