Anther culture of Lolium temulentum, Festuca pratensis and Lolium × Festuca hybrids. II. anther and pollen development In Vivo and In Vitro

Abstract

The various pathways of pollen development were investigated in cultured anthers of Lolium temulentum, Festuca pratensis and the L. multiflorum × F. pratensis hybrid 'Elmet'. In all three, development from the vegetative cell was the predominant pathway of pollen callus development. However, there were characteristic differences in the behaviour of the generative cell. In L. temulentum it remained attached to the pollen wall and degenerated, whereas in F. pratensis it divided. In 'Elmet' it detached from the pollen wall and remained undivided. Both polarized and unpolarized partitioned calluses were observed. Development of the fusion product of the vegetative and generative nuclei were also observed in anthers of L. temulentum. Anomalous grains were not found to be major source of pollen calluses.Sections of anthers of L. temulentum were used to investigate the origin of S pollen grains, the small pale-staining grains which denote pollen dimorphism. Such grains form out of contact with the tapetum and are therefore determined before or during meiosis (i.e. before harvest of anthers for culture). Sections were also used to demonstrate the influence of the duration of pretreatment on the development of the middle layer of the anther wall. © 1987 Annals of Botany Company.