Abstract
In flowers grown at warm temperatures in environmental chambers and at cooler temperatures in the greenhouse, eight parameters of the sperm-cell organization of Nicotiana tabacum were examined during sperm cell maturation using serial ultrathin sectioning, transmission electron microscopy and quantitative cytology. Despite employing the same seed source, and similar soil and nutrient conditions, the surface area and volume of the cell, the nucleus and the chondriome were larger in flowers grown in growth chambers under warmer controlled conditions, whereas the number of plastids appeared to be the same, or slightly higher, in flowers grown under cooler greenhouse conditions. These results suggest that environmental conditions may influence the quantity of cytoplasmic organelles, including mitochondria and plastids, thus potentially influencing the likelihood of male cytoplasmic inheritance.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Corriveau JL, Coleman AW (1988) Rapid screening method to detect potential biparental inheritance of plastid DNA and results for over 200 angiosperm species. Am J Bot 75:1443–1458
Derepas A, Dulieu H (1992) Inheritance of the capacity to transfer plastids by the pollen parent in Petunia hybrida Hort. J Hered 83:6–10
Medgyesy P, Páy A, Márton L (1986) Transmission of paternal chloroplasts in Nicotiana. Mol Gen Genet 204:195–198
Mogensen HL (1992) The male germ unit: concept, composition and significance. Int Rev Cytol 140:129–147
Read SM, Clarke AE, Bacic A (1993) Requirements for division of the generative nucleus in cultured pollen tubes of Nicotiana. Protoplasma 174:101–115
Russell SD (1992) Double fertilization. Int Rev Cytol 140:357–388
Smith SE (1988) Biparental inheritance of organelles and its implications in crop improvement. Plant Breed Rev 6:361–393
Yu H-S, Russell SD (1992) Male cytoplasmic diminution and male germ unit in young and mature pollen of Cymbidium goeringii: a 3-dimensional and quantitative study. Sex Plant Reprod 5:169–181
Yu H-S, Russell SD (1993) Three-dimensional ultrastructure of generative cell mitosis in pollen tubes of Nicotiana Eur J Cell Biol 161:338–348
Yu H-S, Russell SD (1994) Populations of plastids and mitochondria during male reproductive cell maturation in Nicotiana tabacum L.: a cytological basis for occasional biparental inheritance. Planta 193:115–122
Yu H-S, Hu S-Y, Zhu C (1989) Ultrastructure of sperm cells and the male germ unit of Nicotiana tabacum. Protoplasma 152:29–36
Yu H-S, Hu S-Y, Russell SD (1992) Sperm cells in pollen tubes of Nicotiana tabacum L.: Three-dimensional reconstruction, cytoplasmic diminution and quantitative cytology. Protoplasma 168:172–183
Yu H-S, Huang B-Q, Russell SD (1994) Transmission of male cytoplasm during fertilization in Nicotiana tabacum. Sex Plant Reprod 7:312–323
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Communicated by R. Hagemann
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Yu, H.S., Russell, S.D. Quantitative differences in sperm cells and organelles of tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) grown under differing environmental conditions. Theoret. Appl. Genetics 89, 814–817 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00224502
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00224502