PJB-2008-57
IS PINE (PINUS DENSIFLORA) POLLEN ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF POTASSIUM ACCUMULATION AT SULCUS AREA?
SHAFIQ REHMAN1*, MUHAMMAD JAMIL2, EUI SHIK RHA3, MUHAMMAD ASHRAF4 AND SONG JOONG YUN5
Abstract
Microscopic studies revealed that pine (Pinus densiflora) pollen grain body consists of a pair of air sacs and has a narrow sulcus (furrow) between two sacs. It is suggested that hydration and emergence of pollen tube take place through this furrow. Macallum’s staining solution, energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX) and confocal laser microscopy using PBFI provide convincing evidence that potassium is concentrated only in the sulcus area of pollen grains. These results demonstrate that the consistent appearance of potassium at the sulcus area of pine pollen may regulate water uptake. Moreover, these results support the idea that the potassium accumulation at the aperture area may be a general pattern in all kinds of pollen grains.
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