Histopathology and histochemistry of anthers in virus-infected chilli plants (Capsicum annuum L. cv. Byadgi)

Abstract

Summary Histopathological and histochemical changes in the anthers of chilliplants, inoculated with pepper vein banding virus (PVBV) and tobacco mosaic virus (TMV), were studied in comparison with those in the anthers of healthy plants. In the developing anthers, up to sporogenous tissue stage, the histology and histochemistry were similar in both healthy and virus-infected plants. Subsequently a conspicuous size reduction was noticed in the developing anthers and their component structures, such as pollen mother cells (PMCs), tetrads, and pollen grains in virus-infected plants. Even though starch accumulated in the wall layers and connective tissues of developing anthers in both healthy and TMV infected plants, the former contained more starch than the latter. However, there was no starch accumulation in the anther tissues of the PVBV-infected plants. The tapetal cells in virus-infected plants had relatively less of cytoplasmic RNA and proteins as compared to control. The pollen grains of healthy (control) plants had rich accumulation of starch, cytoplasmic RNA, and proteins, whereas those of virus-infected plants lacked these macromolecular substances.