Presence of plastid and absence of mitochondrial DNA in male reproductive cells as evidence for cytoplasmic inheritance in Turnera ulmifolia and Zantedeschia aethiopica

Summary.

Epifluorescence microscopy of mature pollen grains of Turnera ulmifolia and Zantedeschia aethiopica stained with 4′,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole demonstrated the presence of fluorescent cytoplasmic DNA aggregates in the male reproductive cells of both species. Double staining of the cells with 4′,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole and 3,3′-dihexyloxacarbocyanine iodide in Technovit resin sections showed that the mitochondria of these cells did not correspond to the fluorescent cytoplasmic DNA aggregates. Electron microscopy studies revealed both plastids and mitochondria in the cells of these species. In addition, immunoelectron microscopy using an anti-DNA monoclonal antibody showed clear labeling of plastids but not mitochondria. These data provide cytological evidence for biparental plastid inheritance and maternal mitochondrial inheritance in these species.