Open AccessStructural relationships among central cell and egg apparatus cells of barley as related to transmission of male gametes
Author(s) -
David D. Cass
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
acta societatis botanicorum poloniae
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.297
H-Index - 29
eISSN - 2083-9480
pISSN - 0001-6977
DOI - 10.5586/asbp.1981.027
Subject(s) - egg cell , gamete , pollen tube , cytoplasm , biology , microbiology and biotechnology , embryo , human fertilization , cell wall , botany , anatomy , pollen , pollination
Barley embryo sacs were examined using light and electron microscopy before and during fertilization. One synergid degenerates after pollination with loss of nuclear and cytoplasmic organization and cell wall material between synergid and central cell. Some wall between egg and central cell is also lost. After pollen tube discharge into the degenerate synergid, the male gametes leave the synergid entering a pocket of central cell cytoplasm separated from the synergid only by membranes. This could provide for efficient gamete transmission and possible recognition through specific membrane contacts