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Recent progress on sperm characterization in flowering plants
Author(s) -
Russell S. D.,
Cresti M.,
Dumas C.
Publication year - 1990
Publication title -
physiologia plantarum
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.351
H-Index - 146
eISSN - 1399-3054
pISSN - 0031-9317
DOI - 10.1111/j.1399-3054.1990.tb05695.x
Subject(s) - gamete , sperm , biology , microbiology and biotechnology , human fertilization , germ cell , reproduction , andrology , botany , genetics , medicine , gene
The organization, isolation and physiology of the angiosperm male gamete has recently emerged as an area of special interest. Detailed in vivo studies have revealed: (1) that the functional unit of male reproduction is a‘male germ unit,’composed of two sperm cells and a physically associated vegetative nucleus; (2) that the two sperm cells are often cytoplasmically dimorphic, and (3) that some sperm cells appear to undergo preferential fertilization, preferentially fusing with either the egg or the proendospermaric central cell. Male gamete isolation has provided enrichments of up to 10 7 cells ml –1 , with sperm integrity and viability demonstrated by the flunrochromatic reaction and ATP levels. Although results from biochemical and hybridoma antibody characterization are still preliminary, they indicate that sperm cells possess polypeptide expression patterns that are different from those of surrounding cells. These findings suggest the existence of an independent developmental program in the angiosperm male gamete.