The long pollen tube journey and in vitro pollen germination of Phalaenopsis orchids.

ABSTRACT:

Key message

Pollen biology in P. aphrodite. Orchids have a distinct reproductive program. Pollination triggers ovule development and differentiation within flowers, and fertilization occurs days to months after pollination. It is unclear how pollen tubes travel through the developing ovaries during ovule development and when pollen tubes arrive at the mature embryo sac to achieve fertilization. Here, we report a robust staining protocol to image and record the timing of pollen germination, progressive growth of pollen tubes in ovaries, and arrival of pollen tubes at embryo sacs in Phalaenopsis aphrodite. The pollen germinated and pollen tubes entered the ovary 3 days after pollination. Pollen tubes continued to grow and filled the entire cavity of the ovary as the ovary elongated a

SUBMITTER: Chen JC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4909812 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature