Autoradiographic studies of DNA and histone synthesis in successive differentiation stages of pollen grain in Hyacinthus orientalis L.

Abstract

DNA and histone synthesis in five consecutive morphological stages of Hyacinthus orientalis L. pollen grain differentiation were studied autoradiographically. DNA synthesis was found to occur in both the generative and the vegetative cell. DNA replication in the generative cell took place when the generative cell was still adhered to the pollen grain wall but already devoid of callose wall. DNA synthesis in the generative cell slightly preceded that in the vegetative cell. Histones were synthesized in phase S of the generative and vegetative cell. In the generative cell histone synthesis also continued at a lower level after completion of DNA replication. In the developmental stages under study the nuclei of the generative cells were decidedly richer in lysine histones than vegetative cell nuclei.