Summary
Upon squashing of the pollen grain, the isolated generative cell ofNicotiana tabacum looses its spindle shape to become spherical; this phenomenon is independent of the sucrose concentration used. The time necessary for this change can vary from 1 min (0% sucrose) to 20 min (30% sucrose). The microtubular cytoskeleton was studied by means of immunofluorescence and electron microscopy. Just after isolation, 5 to 15 clearly visible bundles in microtubules organized in a basket-like structure are present. After 15 min in medium with 15% sucrose, the microtubular cytoskeleton disappears, and a diffusely spread tubulin can be observed. Neither the addition of 10–20 μM taxol to the medium, nor the omission of Ca2+ to the medium has any effect on the changes in cell shape and loss of microtubular bundles after isolation.
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Abbreviations
- GC :
-
Generative cell
- SC :
-
sperm cell
- BK :
-
Brewbaker and Kwack
- CLSM :
-
confocal laser scanning fluorescence micros copy
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Theunis, C.H., Pierson, E.S. & Cresti, M. The microtubule cytoskeleton and the rounding of isolated generative cells ofNicotiana tabacum . Sexual Plant Reprod 5, 64–71 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00714559
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00714559