Developmental Morphology of the Microsporangium in Ipomoea reptans Poir

Abstract

The development of the microsporangium in I pomoea reptans Poir begins from a row of archesporial cells located just beneath the protoderm of the developing anther These cells divide periclinally to form a layer of primary parietal cells toward the outside and a layer of primary sporogenous cells toward the inside. The latter function directly as the microspore mother cells The row of primary parietal cells, by means of successive periclinal divisions, eventually develops into a quadriseriate microsporangium wall lying just within the epidermis of the mature anther The controversy concerning the existence of a microsporangium wall in angiosperms is discussed. Microsporogenesis and the ontogeny of the male gametophyte of I reptans are described in detail.