OBJECTIVETo determine the self-compatibility of Platycodon grandiflorum and the location of microspore germination on stigma.

METHODThe microspore germination of self-pollination, self-plant-pollination and cross-pollination and the pollination microspore germination in and outside of stigma were observed with fluorescence microscopy.

RESULTMost pollens of self-pollination, self-plant-pollination and cross-pollination can germinate on the stigma, and after 24 hours, pollen tube entered into the ovary successfully. Pollinated on the outer-surface of stigma, microspores could not germinate, but on the inner-surface of the stigma when it dehisced most microspores can germinate.

CONCLUSIONThe compatibility of self-plant-pollination of Platycodon grandiflorum is high. The microspore germination loci is on the inner-surface of the dehisced stigma.

Flowers ; growth & development ; Microscopy, Fluorescence ; methods ; Plants, Medicinal ; growth & development ; Platycodon ; growth & development ; Pollen Tube ; growth & development ; Pollination ; physiology

OBJECTIVETo study the pollen germination in vitro and pollen tube growth of Scutellaria baicalensis.

METHODTwo years-old S. baicalensis that in the experiment field of Shangluo university were used as the materials. The effects of culture medium, sucrose, PEG, pH value, culture time and temperature on the pollen germination and tube growth of S. baicalensis were investigated using the method of liquid culture.

RESULT AND CONCLUSIONThe results showed that 100 g x L(-1) sucrose was helpful for the germination and growth of pollens. However, higher concentration of sucrose would inhibit strongly pollen germination and the growth of pollen tubes. PEG could accelerate pollen germination and tube growth, and the optimal concentration was 150 g x L(-1). The optimum culture medium was BK and BK + 10% sucrose + 150 g x L(-1) PEG (pH 5.8) , and the latter was more benefit for pollen germination and tube growth. The pollen of germination was better at 25-35 degrees C, and it was the best at 30 degrees C for 2-3 hours, while pollen tube growth was slower at 25 degrees C.

Cell Culture Techniques ; Cells, Cultured ; Culture Media ; metabolism ; Germination ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Pollen Tube ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Scutellaria baicalensis ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Temperature

The endoplasmic reticulum quality control (ER-QC) is a conserved mechanism in surveillance of secreted signaling factors during cell-to-cell communication in eukaryotes. Recent data show that the ER-QC plays important roles in diverse cell-to-cell signaling processes during immune response, vegetative and reproductive development in plants. Pollen tube guidance is a precisely guided cell-cell communication process between the male and female gametophytes during plant reproduction. Recently, the female signal has been identified as small secreted peptides, but how the pollen tube responds to this signal is still unclear. In this review, we intend to summarize the role of ER-QC in plants and discuss the recent advances regarding our understanding of the mechanism of pollen tube response to the female signals.
Animals ; Endoplasmic Reticulum ; metabolism ; Humans ; Plant Cells ; metabolism ; Plant Development ; Plant Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Plants ; immunology ; Pollen Tube ; cytology ; growth & development ; immunology ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction