Premium
Cytology of 2 N pollen formation and pollen morphology in diploid lotus tenuis (fabaceae)
Author(s) -
Rim Yong Woo,
Beuselinck Paul R.
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
american journal of botany
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.218
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1537-2197
pISSN - 0002-9122
DOI - 10.1002/j.1537-2197.1996.tb12803.x
Subject(s) - pollen , biology , ploidy , meiosis , botany , fabaceae , prolate spheroid , double fertilization , pollen tube , pollination , genetics , physics , classical mechanics , gene
Two genotypes of Lotus tenuis Waldst & Kit. ex Willd. PI 204882, a diploid (2 n = 2 x = 12), were identified as producing 2 n pollen (maximum = 6%). The objectives of this research were: (1) to determine the mechanism(s) of 2 n pollen formation in the L. tenuis genotypes and (2) to morphologically describe n and 2n pollen using light and scanning electron microscopy. Meiotic studies revealed that 2 n pollen resulted from tripolar spindles during anaphase II of microsporogenesis. The 2 n pollen germinated well, although abnormal pollen tubes were observed. The genetic constitution of 2 n pollen resulting from tripolar spindles is equivalent to first division restitution (FDR) of meiosis. Fresh and air‐dried pollen samples exhibited differences in size and shape under light and scanning electron microscopy. The size of diploid ( 2 n) pollen was larger than that of haploid (1 n ) pollen. Normal haploid (1 n ) pollen was globose‐prolate in shape, while diploid (2 n ) pollen was tetrahedral in shape.