The cell wall of the pollen mother cell at the tetrad stage in Convallaria majalis L.

Abstract

The cell wall at the tetrad stage in Convallaria majalis L. has been studied by light microscope histochemical techniques. The standard PAS reaction has shown the persistence of the primary pecto-cellulosic pollen mother cell wall localized around the callosic special wall (determined both by Bauer's reaction and the fluorescence technique with aniline blue) of individual tetrcds. A PAS-positive spore precursor wall (primexime) is formed while the tetrad of microspores is still enclosed by intact callose and pollen mother cell walls. The pecto-cellulosic wall and callose layer dissolve simultaneously to release the microspores into another loculi.