Patterns of Protein Accumulation in Developing Anthers of Lilium longiflorum Correlate with Histological Events

Abstract

Differentiation in the anther of Lilium longiflorum occurs in discrete stages that correlate well with flower bud length. Using both sodium dodecyl sulfate and two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, detectable proteins that accumulated during the development of lily anthers were documented. In terms of histology and protein patterns, anther ontogeny was divided into three major phases. Phase I encompassed early proliferative stages as well as the differentiation of the locules. Phase II extended from the onset of meiosis through to mature microspores. Phase III began after microspore mitosis occurred to form pollen. Ten floral organ-enriched and 17 floral organ-specific polypeptides were detected during development. The appearance and disappearance of these polypeptides correlated well with the transitions between phases. Two groups of floral organ-specific proteins in Phase II were chosen for further analysis. Both groups of polypeptides were stamen-specific. The 15.0 kD proteins were anther-specific and were the most abundant floral proteins detected; the 75.0 kD proteins were detected in both the anther and filament.