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Microsporogenesis and pollen formation in cassava

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Biologia Plantarum

Abstract

This article describes the complete microsporogenesis and pollen formation in cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) at the various developmental stages (pollen mother cell, meiosis, tetrads, early free spore, mid uninucleate, late uninucleate, binucleate and mature pollen grain). Light microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and confocal laser scanning microscopy were used for the study. Floral bud size and other inflorescence characteristics were correlated with specific stages of the microspore development. This association allows a rapid selection of floral buds with similar microspore developmental stages, useful when a large number of homogeneous cells are needed for analysis and for in vitro induction of androgenesis. This article also compares methods for digestion the exine wall in microspores.

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Abbreviations

CLSM:

confocal laser scanning microscope

FISH:

fluorescent in situ hybridization

DAPI:

4′-6-diamidino-2-phenylindole

PMC:

pollen mother cell

EFS:

early free spore

T:

tapetum

M:

middle layer

EN:

endothecium

E:

anther epidermis

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Acknowledgements

The excellent technical support on microscopy provided by José Arroyave is hereby recognized. Valuable comments by Dr. Stephen Blackmore on an earlier version of this manuscript have been incorporated. This work was supported through the grant project No. 2003 FS 121 and No. 2006 FS 062 by The Rockefeller Foundation, NY, USA, and Research Fellow Partnership Programme (RFPP), Switzerland.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xingke Road 723, Guangzhou, 510650, China

    C. Wang

  2. Universidad ICESI, Calle 18 No. 122-135, Cali, Colombia

    Z. Lentini

  3. International Center for Tropical Agriculture, Km17, Recta Cali-Palmira, AA 6713, Cali, Colombia

    E. Tabares, M. Quintero, H. Ceballos, B. Dedicova & C. Olaya

  4. Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Palmira Campus. Carrera 32, Chapinero. Palmira, Valle del Cauca, Colombia

    H. Ceballos

  5. Institute of Plant Sciences, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, CH-8092, Zurich, Switzerland

    C. Sautter

  6. Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200032, China

    P. Zhang

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  1. C. Wang
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  2. Z. Lentini
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  3. E. Tabares
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  8. C. Olaya
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  9. P. Zhang
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to H. Ceballos.

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Previously at International Center for Tropical Agriculture

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Wang, C., Lentini, Z., Tabares, E. et al. Microsporogenesis and pollen formation in cassava. Biol Plant 55, 469–478 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10535-011-0112-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10535-011-0112-9

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