Cytochemistry of pollen development in Campsis radicans (L.) Seem. (Bignoniaceae)

Abstract

In this study, cytochemical staining methods were used to follow the cytochemical modifications of microspore cytoplasm and sporoderm in Campsis radicans (L.) Seem. from tetrad stage to mature pollen. Flower buds were collected at different stages of development, and the anthers were fixed and embedded in Araldite. To make cytochemical observations under light microscope, semithin sections were cut and stained with different dyes. Cytochemical methods provided the opportunity to localize the reserve material in the microspore and pollen cytoplasm, to distinguish the different layers of the sporoderm, and to determine its chemical structure at different developmental stages. Microspore cytoplasm contains variable amounts of proteins, lipids, and insoluble carbohydrates at different stages of microsporogenesis. Sporoderm formation starts at tetrad stage by the formation of primexine and is completed at vacuolated microspore stage by the addition of sporopollenin from tapetum. During the vacuolization and enlargement of the microspores, the structure and the chemical composition of the exine are modified. The endexine becomes chemically different from the ectexine. The ectexine is composed of sporopollenin and a small amount of protein, whereas the endexine is composed of sporopollenin, proteins, and traces of polysaccharides.