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DNA-protein relations during microsporogenesis of Tradescantia

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Summary

  1. 1.

    The morphology of gametogenesis in Tradescantia paludosa is reviewed.

  2. 2.

    Microscopic photometric measurements indicate (a) a progressive increase in DNA content from the time of tetrad formation until microspore mitosis; (b) there is equipartition of DNA between generative and vegetative nuclei; (c) that there is a further increase in DNA content of the vegetative nucleus prior to anthesis, although it is not possible to measure DNA content in the generative nucleus at this stage; (d) that the pollen nuclei initially contain the diploid amount of DNA in a haploid set of chromosomes; and (e) there is very good agreement between the results of the present work and microchemical findings published elsewhere by Ogur and co-workers (1951).

  3. 3.

    A similar cycle obtains in the case of the proteins; the rate of synthesis during development is however much faster than in the case of the DNA. The data also indicate a rapid synthesis of protein by the vegetative nucleus immediately following the microspore division. Also there appears to be a correlation between the onset of cytoplasmic basophilia and the decrease in volume of the vegetative nucleus (presumably loss of protein), just prior to anthesis.

  4. 4

    Observations on acid and basic staining reactions are discussed in relation to growth and differentiation of the microspore and pollen grain.

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Author notes

  1. John H. D. Bryan

    Present address: Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts

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  1. Department of Zoology, Columbia University, New York

    John H. D. Bryan

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I wish to express my deep appreciation to Professors Franz Schrader and Arthur W. Pollister for their guidance and criticisms throughout the course of this work.— Thanks are also due to Professor C. L. Huskins of the University of Wisconsin for his kindness in supplying the stock plants, and to the Botany Department of Columbia University which generously provided greenhouse facilities. —The work was done while the author was a McCallum Fellow of Columbia University.

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Bryan, J.H.D. DNA-protein relations during microsporogenesis of Tradescantia. Chromosoma 4, 369–392 (1950). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00325780

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