Amorphophallus

Author(s): Silvia Ulrich, Michael Hesse, Martina Weber, Heidemarie Halbritter
Abstract: In pollen characters, Amorphophallus is one of the most diverse genera in the Araceae. The present work is a critical survey of contradicting reports on the impact of acetolysis treatment on Amorphophallus pollen, on the chemical nature of the outer pollen wall layer and of electron-dense (dark) granules found within it. Furthermore, we wanted to clarify the pollen polarity and to test conclusions based on different preparation techniques. Pollen morphology of 25 species is investigated by light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. Our results show that Amorphophallus pollen is not resistant to acetolysis treatment. The use of different transmission electron microscopy staining methods proved the polysaccharide nature of the outer pollen wall layer and of the granules within it. Moreover, an additional thin surface layer was found in all investigated species. Microspores in early and late tetrad stages show that the less convex side of the microspore is the proximal face and the more convex side the distal face. The extrusion of pollen in strands is illustrated for the first time by light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Furthermore, observations of pollen in water showed that in some of the investigated species the pollen wall is shed immediately before pollen tube formation.
Organisation(s): Department of Botany and Biodiversity Research
Journal: Grana: an international journal of palynology and aerobiology with world pollen and spore flora
Volume: 56
Pages: 1-36
No. of pages: 36
ISSN: 0017-3134
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00173134.2015.1133699
Publication date: 01-2017
Peer reviewed: Yes
Austrian Fields of Science 2012: 106008 Botany, 106049 Ultrastructure research
Keywords
ASJC Scopus subject areas: Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics, Plant Science
Portal url: https://ucrisportal.univie.ac.at/en/publications/9a74637f-e555-46a9-9aba-538a178ee9ac