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Bioassays for incompatibility

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Summary

Self-incompatibility is a form of plant growth regulation acting on pollen and the pollen tube. It could therefore be amenable to study by bioassay techniques, which have been used successfully in the past to show the existence of other plant growth regulators and to assist in their purification. The genetics of self-incompatibility is well understood, and yet there have been difficulties in applying bioassays to the study of the supposed gene products. This review examines published accounts of attempts made to use the bioassay technique in the study of self-incompatibility. In general, bioassays for sporophytic incompatibility have been more successful than gametophytic tests, but none is entirely convincing. Despite this, the authors believe it is worthwhile for those involved with fertilization incompatibility research to persist in trying to improve the bioassay for use as an analytical tool.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Agricultural Biochemistry, Waite Agricultural Research Institute, The University of Adelaide, 5064, Glen Osmond, S.A., Australia

    J. F. Jackson & H. F. Linskens

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  1. J. F. Jackson
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  2. H. F. Linskens
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Jackson, J.F., Linskens, H.F. Bioassays for incompatibility. Sexual Plant Reprod 3, 207–212 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00202876

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