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Histological and histochemical investigations of Pollen embryos ofBrassica juncea (L.) Czern

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Biologia Plantarum

Abstract

Pollen embryos of Brassica juncea (L.) Czern., obtained through anther culture, were examined histologically and histochemically to find explanation for their inability to germinate normally like a zygotic embryo. Most of the embryos lacked a distinct plumule or both plumule and radicle. Anotherabnormal feature of these embryos was the degeneration of cells in the hypocotyl and radicle, whichoccurred either through lysis or cell shrinkage. Reserve food material was mainly in the form of proteinbodies and starch grains. Unlike the zygotic embryos, the pollen embryos lacked lipids. It is concluded thatthe inability of the pollen embryos to germinate normally is due to their structural abnormalities andphysiological immaturity.

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Author notes

  1. Kiran K. Sharma

    Present address: Plant Physiology Research Group. Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, T2N 1N4, Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Botany, University of Delhi, 110007, Delhi, India

    Kiran K. Sharma & Sant S. Bhojwani

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  1. Kiran K. Sharma
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  2. Sant S. Bhojwani
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Sharma, K.K., Bhojwani, S.S. Histological and histochemical investigations of Pollen embryos ofBrassica juncea (L.) Czern. Biol Plant 31, 276–279 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02907288

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02907288

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