An ultrastructural study of pollen development in tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum). I. Tetrad to early binucleate microspore stage

Abstract

Microspores undergo considerable ultrastructural changes between the tetrad and early binucleate microspore stages of microsporogenesis in tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum). Pollen wall deposition began late in the tetrad stage, and by the early microspore stage a lamellar foot layer and tectum were deposited. Sculpturing of the tectum was evident by the early binucleate microspore stage. Dictyosomes and vesicles were abundant during the period of pollen wall formation. Plastids were associated with the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) to form plastid–ER complexes, from the late tetrad to the vacuolate microspore stage. At the vacuolate microspore stage, endoplasmic reticulum independent of plastids was also observed, and at the early binucleate microspore stage ER was not associated with plastids. Free ribosomes were evenly distributed throughout the cytoplasm until the vacuolate microspore stage when they were organized into polysomes. Mitochondria were spherical to ellipsoid, with an electron-dense matrix and swollen cristae, until the early binucleate microspore stage when they were highly elongate and became convoluted. Key words: Lycopersicon esculentum, microsporogenesis, pollen development, tetrads, tomato, ultrastructure.