Sexual reproduction in grand fir (Abies grandis)

Phenology and anatomy of the postdormancy reproductive phase of Abies grandis Lindl, were studied. The dormant microsporangia contained compactly arranged pollen mother cells (PMC). The pollen cones broke dormancy in the 3rd week of February and soon afterwards the PMC entered meiosis. Microspore tetrads formed by the 2nd week of March. Pollen grains were shed at the five-celled stage in the 3rd week of April. The pollen grains were bisaccate and showed a triradiate mark on the proximal pole. The dormant ovulate-cone buds bore rudimentary ovuliferous scales, each with two ovular areas. Ovulate cones broke dormancy at the end of January. Megaspore mother cells differentiated by the end of February and the integument was initiated soon afterwards. A megaspore triad formed in the 2nd week of April. By the 3rd week of April, at the time of pollination, the ovule contained a free-nuclear gametophyte, and the integument had developed a stigmatic micropylar funnel. Numerous microdroplets were observed on the surface of the funnel to which pollen adhered. After pollination the funnel became infolded, enclosing the pollen grains. Pollen germination, pollen tube growth through the nucellus, and syngamy took only 3–4 days and occurred in the 3rd week of June. The female gametophyte was long and bore two or three archegonia. The proembryo consisted of four tiers of four cells each. The suspensors developed from the subterminal tier of cells. The four terminal cells formed the embryonal mass, whose proximal cells elongated and developed into a secondary suspensor. Differentiation of the root apical meristem and the cotyledons in the young embryo occurred in the 1st week of July and the embryo matured in the 3rd week of August.

Sexual reproduction in subalpine fir (Abies lasiocarpa)

Reproductive phenology and anatomy of postdormancy phases of a population of Abies lasiocarpa (Hook.) Nutt. (subalpine fir) from a natural stand near Prince George, B.C., have been studied. The plants exhibited a 1-year type of reproductive cycle. By the end of March, the pollen cones had broken dormancy and contained pollen mother cells (PMC) in premeiotic stages. The PMCs entered meiosis in the 1st week of April and formed tetrads in the 3rd week. The tapetal cells, meanwhile, became binucleate, and then several went through endomitoses. The tapetal cell walls dissolved as the microspores separated from the tetrads. Orbicules were present around the degenerating cytoplasms of tapetal cells. Pollen grains were shed at the five-celled stage in the 3rd week of May.By the end of March, the ovulate cones had also broken dormancy and the ovules contained one to three hypodermal archesporial cells. Initiation of the integument and the formation of megaspore triads were observed in the 3rd week of April. By the 3rd week of May, at the time of pollination, the integument had developed a stigmatic micropylar funnel which received the pollen grains. During the postpollination stages the flange of the funnel became folded, and the nucellus grew up closer to the pollen grains. The nucellar cells at its tip degenerated to form a pollen chamber which contained the pollen grains. Pollen germination, pollen tube growth through the nucellus, and syngamy took only 4–6 days, and occurred at the end of June.The female gametophyte was rather long and narrow and bore two to three archegonia. The proembryo comprised four tiers of four cells each. The first set of suspensors developed from the subterminal tier of cells. The four terminal cells formed the embryonal mass but they contributed unequally. The proximal cells of the embryonal mass formed a massive secondary suspensor. Differentiation of root initials and the initiation of cotyledons in the young embryo took place in the 4th week of July, and the seeds matured in the 3rd week of August. The mature seed comprised a long and well-differentiated embryo, the female gametophyte, most of whose cells were gorged with protein bodies and lipid droplets, and a thick seed coat which was internally differentiated into three tissue layers. The outermost layer of gametophytic cells was devoid of any storage products.