Studies on heteromorphic self-incompatibility systems: Physiological aspects of the incompatibility system of Primula obconica

Abstract

In Primula obconica, a species with a heteromorphic self-incompatibility system, the distinction between compatible and incompatible pollen tubes takes place on the stigma surface in thrum flowers, self tubes growing randomly over the papillar cells. No differences were seen between self and cross tube behaviour on the pin stigma surface, but self tubes were inhibited within the stigmatic tissue with differences in tube length evident after 24 h. The stigma surface bears a proteinaceous pellicle and binds the lectin Concanavalin A. Removal of the stigma removes the incompatibility barrier in mature gynoecia. Bud pollination shows that pollen tubes cannot grow in a normal manner on immature stigmas; the random growth of tubes over the stigma surface resembles that of mature thrum selfs. Fewer compatible tubes reach the style base of young gynoecia and smaller numbers of seeds are set than in mature flowers. Pin and thrum pollen grains germinate and grow in aqueous media, thrum tubes growing longer than pin. The presence of H3BO4 and CaCl2 in the growth medium promotes tube elongation and lengths equivalent to compatible styles can be obtained. The pollen grains have proteinaceous materials in their walls which diffuse out on moistening. Prolonged washing in aqueous media removes these materials but the incompatibility reaction remains unchanged. Thus the incompatibility reaction is between pollen tubes and stigmatic tissue and differs from the homomorphic, sporophytic system where pollen wall proteins elicit the incompatibility response.