Microsporogenesis in Larix laricina

Abstract

Microsporogenesis was studied in Larix laricina in eastern Newfoundland at weekly intervals from October to April in four successive seasons. Male strobili were fixed in a 3:1 ethanol – propionic acid mixture, stained in alcoholic carmine, and squashed in 45% acetic acid.Pollen mother cells began development from interphase in early October and passed through leptotene, zygotene, and pachytene by mid-November. They remained in diplotene until mid-March to early April when meiosis was completed over a 2-to 4-week period. Microspores were produced by early May. The pattern of meiotic divisions, their duration, and variability within and between trees in L. laricina was similar to those reported for L. decidua, L. kaempferi, L. sibirica, and L. eurolepis.Deviation from the normal pattern occurred infrequently. In six trees the "resting diplotene" of winter was interrupted on one occasion and some male strobili had a "delayed meiosis" which occurred several days after meiosis in all other sampled strobili. Abnormal chromosome separations were observed on a few occasions; these consisted mostly of lagging chromosomes, a common abnormality in Larix meiosis. The implications for pollen development and seed yield are discussed.La microsporogénèse chez Larix laricina dans l'est de Terre-Neuve a été étudiée à intervalles hebdomadaires d'octobre à avril, pendant quatre années successives. Les strobiles mâles étaient fixés dans un mélange 3 : 1 d'éthanol – acide propionique, colorés au carmin alcoolique et écrasés dans l'acide acétique 45%.