| Abstract: | The results of autoradiographic experiments demonstrate that,as with the pollen of most other species, both the generativeand vegetative nuclei of Loblolly Pine (Pinus taeda) activelyengage in RNA synthesis from the very early stages of pollengermination. Unlike most other species, however, this newlysynthesized RNA includes rRNA. Evidence is provided for theimportance of this newly synthesized RNA in the process of continuedpollen tube growth. One and two-dimensional gel electrophoretic analysis revealsa number of both qualitative and quantitative differences amongthe proteins synthesized during the early stages of germinationand the later stages of pollen tube growth. One of the mostnotable of these is a 36 kD protein, the synthesis of whichpredominates during the later stages of pollen germination.A similar pattern of 36 kD protein synthesis is observed whenmRNA extracted from pollen at each of these stages is translatedin vitro. Key words: Pinus, pollen tube growth |
