Histochemistry and Fine Structure of the Pollen Tube Residue in the Megagametophyte ofZea Mays

摘要

Electron microscopy of osmic acid and uranyl acetate-stained pollen tube residue inZea maysreveals randomly distributed amorphous zones expressing a high degree of variation in electron scattering potential. Light microscopy of similar material processed for histochemical studies reveal that the residue is composed of neutral and acid polysaccharides, RNA and protein. Osmic acid staining of fine structural material indicates probable lipids. The residue does not contain observable amount of DNA or histone. Neither the cytoplasmic origin nor possible functions of the residue is known.