Cytological studies on degenerative nuclei at pollen development ofCarex ciliato-marginata

Chromosomes in degenerative and functional nuclei ofCarex ciliato-marginata Nakai were investigated during meiotic and primary pollen nuclear division. The nuclear DNA content of these nuclei was also measured using Feulgen microspectrophotometry. At metaphase of the primary pollen nuclear division, the chromosomes of degenerative nuclei were the same length as those of the functional nucleus, but only half their width. The functional nucleus divided into two, each of which moved to a pole, but the degenerative nuclei did not divide. The nuclear DNA content of the degenerative nucleus was half that of the functional nucleus and equal to that of one of the tetrads of a meiotic division. It is concluded that DNA replication was carried out in only one nucleus of the tetrad and that the other three nuclei were composed of unreplicated chromosomes at metaphase of the primary pollen nuclear division.