Abstract
Some aspects of pollen cytology at dispersal were studied in 12 species of gymnosperms. The pollen grains differed in: 1. volume and cell number; 2. polarization of external structure and internal cell components; 3. wall thickness, especially of the intine, and the resulting percentage of cell volume with respect to total pollen grain volume; 4. stratification and chemical nature of the various intine layers; 5. nature and location of polysaccharide reserves; 6. morphological differences between the dry and hydrated states and phenomena related to hydration; 7. presence and site of orbicles. The various characters are compared and discussed in relation to the length of the reproductive cycle and the relations between the male gametophyte and its female counterpart.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Baker, H. G., Baker, I., 1983: Some evolutionary and taxonomic implications of variation in the chemical reserves of pollen. — InMulcahy, D. L., Ottaviano, E., (Eds): Pollen biology and implications for plant breeding, pp. 43–52. — New York: Elsevier Biomedical.
Bassani, M., Pacini, E., Franchi, G. G., 1994: Humidity stress responses in pollen of anemophilous and entomophilous species. — Grana33: 146–150.
Bewley, I. D., Black, M., 1985: Seeds: physiology of development and germination. — New York: Plenum Press.
Bianchini, M., Pacini, E., 1996: Explosive anther dehiscence inRicinus communis L. involves cell wall modifications and relative humidity. — Int. J. Pl. Sci.157: 739–745.
Bino, R. J., Dafni, A., Meeuse, A. D. J., 1984: Entomophily in the dioecious gymnospermEphedra aphylla Forsk. (=E. alte C. A. Mey.), with some notes onE. campylopoda C. A. Mey. — I. Aspects of the entomophilous syndrome. — Proc. Kon. Ned. Akad. Wetensch., C,87: 1–13.
Chaboud, A., Perez, R., 1992: Generative cell and male gametes: isolation, physiology and biochemistry. — Int. Rev. Cytol.140: 205–232.
Chesnoy, L., 1987: La reproduction sexuée des Gymnospermes. — Bull. Soc. Bot. France134: 63–85.
Coleman, A. W., Goff, L. J., 1985: Application of fluorochromes to pollen biology. 1. Mithramycin-8 — 4,6-diamino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) as vital stain and for quantitation of nuclear DNA. — Stain Technol.60: 145–154.
Dawkins, M. D., Owens, J. N., 1993: In vitro and in vivo pollen hydration, germination, and pollen-tube growth in white spruce,Picea glauca (Moench)Voss. — Int. J. Pl. Sci.154: 506–521.
Duhoux, E., 1982: Mechanism of exine rupture in hydrated taxoid types of pollen. — Grana21: 1–7.
Endress, P. K., 1994: Diversity and evolutionary biology of tropical flowers. — Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Erdtman, G., 1965: Pollen and spore morphology/plant taxonomy —Gymnospermae, Bryophyta. — Stockholm: Almqvist & Wiksell.
Faegri, K., Van Der Pijl, L., 1979: The principles of pollination ecology. 3rd edn. — Oxford: Pergamon Press.
Franchi, G. G., Pacini, E., 1996: Types of pollination and seed dispersal in Mediterranean plants. — Giorn. Bot. Ital.130: 579–585.
—, 1996: Types of carbohydrate reserves in pollen: localization, systematic distribution and ecophysiological significance. — Flora191: 143–159.
Heslop-Harrison, J., 1972: Sexuality of angiosperms. — InSteward, F. L., (Ed.): Plant physiology.6C, pp. 133–289. — New York: Academic Press.
—, 1977: The pollen stigma interaction: pollen tube penetration inCrocus. — Ann. Bot.41: 913–922.
—, 1979: Aspects of the structure, cytochemistry and germination of the pollen of rye (Secale cereale L.). — Ann. Bot.44 (Suppl.1): 1–47.
—, 1969: Time relationships of sporopollenin synthesis associated with tapetum and microspores inLilium. — Planta84: 199–214.
Hesse, M., 1984: Pollenkitt is lacking inGnetatae: Ephedra andWelwitschia; further proof for its restriction to the angiosperms. — Pl. Syst. Evol.144: 9–16.
Hughes, J., McCully, M. E., 1975: The use of an optical brightener in the study of plant structure. — Stain Technol.50: 319–329.
Huxley, A., Griffiths, M., Levy, M., (Eds), 1992: The new Royal Horticultural Society dictionary of gardening. — London: Macmillan Press.
Huynh, K.-L., 1974: Le probléme de la polarité du pollen d'Ephedra. — Pollen & Spores16: 469–474.
Johansen, D. A., 1940: Plant microtechnique. — New York: McGraw Hill.
Kato, M., Inoue, T., Nagamitsu, T., 1995: Pollination biology ofGnetum (Gnetaceae) in a lowland mixed dipterocarp forest in Sarawak. — Amer. J. Bot.82: 862–868.
Kurmann, M. H., 1991: Exine stratification in extant gymnosperms: a review of published transmission electron micrographs. — Kew Bull.47: 25–39.
—, 1994: Pollen morphology and ultrastructure in theCupressaceae. — Acta Bot. Gallica141: 141–147.
Lisci, M., Tanda, C., Pacini, E., 1994: Pollination ecophysiology ofMercurialis annua L. (Euphorbiaceae), an anemophilous species flowering all year round. — Ann. Bot.74: 125–135.
Martens, P., Waterkeyn, L., 1962: Structure du pollen “ailé” chez les Coniféres. — Cellule62: 173–222.
Nepi, M., Pacini, E., 1993: Pollination, pollen viability and pistil receptivity inCucurbita pepo. — Ann. Bot.72: 527–536.
—, 1995: Development ofCucurbita pepo pollen: ultrastructure and histochemistry of the sporoderm. — Canad. J. Bot.73: 1046–1057.
Niklas, K. J., 1985: The aerodynamics of wind pollination. — Bot. Rev.51: 328–386.
O'Brien, T. P., McCully, M. E., 1981: The study of plant structure. Principles and selected methods. — Melbourne: Thermarcarphi.
Owens, J. N., Simpson, S. J., Molder, M., 1980: The pollination mechanism in yellow cypress (Chamaecyparis nootkatensis). — Canad. J. Forest Res.10: 564–572.
—, 1981: The pollination mechanism and the optimal time of pollination in Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii). — Canad. J. Forest Res.11: 36–50.
—, 1987: The pollination mechanism of Engelmann spruce (Picea engelmannii). — Canad. J. Bot.65: 1439–1450.
—, 1995: The reproductive biology of Kauri (Agathis australis). II. Male gametes, fertilization, and cytoplasmic inheritance. — Int. J. Pl. Sci.156: 404–416.
Pacini, E., 1990: Harmomegathic characters ofPteridophyta spores andSpermatophyta pollen. — Pl. Syst. Evol., Suppl.5: 53–69.
—, 1994: Cell biology of anther and pollen development. — InWilliam, E. G., Knox, R. B., Clarke, A. E., (Eds): Genetic control of self incompatibility and reproductive development in flowering plants, pp. 289–308. — Dordrecht: Kluwer.
—, 1996: Types and meaning of pollen carbohydrate reserves. — Sexual Pl. Reprod.9: 362–366.
—, 1984: Reproduction in Mediterranean plants. — Webbia38: 93–103.
—, 1988: Amylogenesis and amylolysis during pollen grain development. — InCresti, M., Gori, P., Pacini, E., (Eds): Sexual reproduction in higher plants, pp. 181–186. — Berlin, Heidelberg, New York: Springer.
—, 1991: Diversification and evolution of the tapetum. — InBlackmore, S., Barnes, S. H., (Eds): Pollen and spores. Patterns of diversification, pp. 301–316. — Oxford: Oxford Science Publications.
—, 1993: Role of tapetum in pollen and spore dispersal. — Pl. Syst. Evol., Suppl.7: 1–11.
—, 1996: Some cytological and evolutionary aspects of pollination. — Acta Soc. Bot. Polon.65: 11–16.
—, 1985: The tapetum: its form, function and possible phylogeny inEmbryophyta. — Pl. Syst. Evol.149: 155–185.
—, 1992: Plastid developmental pathways in some angiosperm reproductive cells. — InOttaviano, E., Mulcahy, D. L., Sari Gorla, M., Bergamini Mulcahy, G., (Eds.): Angiosperm pollen and ovules, pp. 36–42. — Berlin, Heidelberg, New York: Springer.
Pardi, M. L., Viegi, L., Cela Renzoni, G., Franchi, G. G., Pacini, E., 1996: Effects of different pH values on insoluble polysaccharide content of germinating pollen ofPinus pinea andPinus pinaster. — Grana35: 240–247.
Pearse, A. G. E., 1968: Histochemistry. Theoretical and applied.1. — London: Churchill.
Punt. W., Blackmore, S., Nilsson, S., Le Thomas, A., 1994: Glossary of pollen and spore terminology. — Utrecht: LPP Foundation.
Singh, H., 1978: Embryology of gymnosperms. — Berlin: Borntraeger.
Southworth, D., 1988: Isolation of exines from gymnosperm pollen. — Amer. J. Bot.75: 15–21.
Speranza, A., Calzoni, G. L., Pacini, E., 1997: Occurrence of mono- or disaccharides and polysaccharide reserves in mature pollen grains. — Sexual Pl. Reprod.10: 110–115.
Stanley, R. G., Linskens, H. F., 1974: Pollen: biology, biochemistry, management. — Berlin, Heidelberg, New York: Springer.
Takaso, T., Owens, J. N., 1996: Ovulate cone, pollination drop, and pollen capture inSequoiodendrum (Taxodiaceae). — Amer. J. Bot.83: 1175–1180.
Tang, W., 1987: Heat production in cycad cones. — Bot. Gaz.148: 165–174.
Thanikaimoni, G., 1986: Pollen apertures: form and function. — InBlackmore, S., Ferguson, I. K., (Eds): Pollen and spores, form and function, pp. 119–136. — London: Academic Press.
Tomlinson, P. B., 1994: Functional morphology of saccate pollen in Conifers with special reference toPodocarpaceae. — Int. J. Pl. Sci.155: 699–715.
Ueno, J., 1959: Some palynological observations ofTaxaceae, Cupressaceae andAraucariaceae. — J. Inst. Polytechn. Osaka City Univ., Ser. D, Biol.10: 75–87.
—, 1960: On the fine structure of the cell walls of some gymnosperm pollen. — Biol. J. Nara Women's Univ.10: 19–25.
Zavada, M., 1983: Comparative morphology of monocot pollen and evolutionary trends of apertures and wall structures. — Bot. Rev.49: 331–379.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Pacini, E., Franchi, G.G. & Ripaccioli, M. Ripe pollen structure and histochemistry of some gymnosperms. Pl Syst Evol 217, 81–99 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00984923
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00984923