Pre-fertilization degeneration of both synergids in Brassica campestris ovules

Summary In Brassica campestris, both synergids of the ovule degenerate before the arrival of the pollen tube. Synergid degeneration does not depend on pollination. At the non-degenerated stage, the synergids are completely filled with a complexly organized cytoplasm containing numerous mitochondria with many cristae, a large number of dictyosomes with many associated vesicles, and a very extensive rough endoplasmic reticulum. The degenerative changes that occur in the cytoplasm of the synergids are characterized by a loss of visibility of the membranes of the endoplasmic reticulum and the simultaneous formation of dense deposits on the surrounding membranes of the mitochondria. Locally, the plasma membranes of the synergids disappear, and some ground plasma of the synergids penetrates into the space between the plasma membranes of the egg cell and the central cell.