Microsporogenesis in Amelanchier alnifolia: sporogenous cells, microsporocytes, and tetrads

As part of an overall program aimed at increasing our knowledge of the male reproductive system of Amelanchier alnifolia Nutt., this study documents structural and developmental changes that occur in the sporogenous cells, microsporocytes, and tetrads of microspores during microsporogenesis using general cytochemical techniques in conjunction with bright field, fluorescence, and transmission electron microscopy. The sporogenous cells are thin walled and stain positively for β-1,4-glucans, pectic acids, and cellulose, but not callose. At the microsporocyte and tetrad stages of microsporogenesis, thick walls develop and stain positively for β-1,4-glucans (hemicelluloses but not cellulose), pectic acids, and callose. Thus, the eventual release of maturing microspores from the tetrads requires the digestion of all three of these carbohydrate wall materials. Postmeiotic cytokinesis is of the simultaneous type and is initiated when Golgi vesicles aggregate simultaneously into a network of cylindrical tubules in both central and peripheral cell locations of the coenocytic tetrad. Eventually, this network fuses to form the new cell walls within the microspore tetrad.