Morphological and histochemical differentiation of the pollen wall ofBetula pendula Roth, during dormancy up to anthesis

Abstract

Anthers ofBetula pendula were collected at regular intervals during the dormancy period until anthesis. Ultrathin sections of maturing pollen grains were especially stained for polysaccharides and proteins and examined with TEM to determine whether structural or/and chemical changes in the pollen wall occur during the dormancy period of the plant life cycle. At the beginning of the dormancy period, the microspore wall consists of a well developed tectum, columellae and a foot layer. Spinules and supratectal elements are prominent. Microchannels are present in the tectum but not obvious in the foot layer. Some of the columellae are not clearly connected with the foot layer, but some connections are evident. Pores are filled with a thick fibrillar network “flocculent material”. The cytoplasm is packed with starch grains and lipid globules. The stainability for acidic and neutral polysaccharides and protein was tested, and variations in the pollen wall are illustrated. As temperature increased towards the end of dormancy and before anthesis there is obvious differentiation in the morphology of the pollen wall. The granular fibrillar layer beneath the pore and the Zwischenkorper are the most variable part of the wall. Different histochemical reactions observed in different layers at the aperture sites indicate different functions of these layers.