Megasporogenesis and megagametogenesis in Pelargonium × hortorum

Abstract

The ovary of Pelargonium × hortorum contains five pairs of superposed ovules in five locules. These ovules are bitegmic and crassinucellar and the upper ovule of each pair is campylotropous while the lower one is anatropous. A single archesporial cell functions directly as the megaspore mother cell. Meiotic division of the megaspore mother cell results in the formation of a linear tetrad of megaspores of which the chalazal megaspore is functional. Embryo sac development is of the polygonum type. Rapid degeneration of the three antipodals occurs followed by the fusion of the two polar nuclei. Therefore, the mature embryo sac contains the egg, the two synergids, and the fused polar nucleus. Double fertilization takes place. Ninety-two percent of the fertilized ovules of P. × hortorum cv. ‘Purple Heart’ are found in the upper position.The two integuments are initiated before the differentiation of the archesporial cell. Cells of the outer layer of the outer integument and the inner layer of the inner integument deposit tannins. The nucellus develops through divisions of the parietal cells of the nucellar epidermal cells.