Features related to anther opening in Solanum species (Solanaceae)

CARRIZO GARCÍA C., MATESEVACH M. & BARBOZA G.E.

BOTANICAL JOURNAL OF THE LINNEAN SOCIETY

Año: 2008 vol. 158 p. 344 - 354

0024-4074

The way of anther opening and the morphological and histological variability of the stomium are described in 30 Solanum species. Poricidal, poricidal-longitudinal and longitudinal opening anthers were observed. In the three cases, the stomium may be diverse regarding its shape and histological characteristics before the opening, but it is always formed by small epidermal cells as a unique wall layer; the stomial cells may be differentiated only in part of the anther length. Particular crescent-shapes structures in the epidermis, called ‘ridges’, were observed lining the stomium in most species. These ridges may be related to the stomium opening, working together with the thickened cells of the anther. Cell with thickenings are developed in the endothecium, middle layers and/or connective tissue in the apical end of the anther, surrounding the pore when it is formed; only in the longitudinally opening anthers of S. nitidum a thickened endothecium develops along its entire length. At least two histological features (the differentiation of small stomial epidermal cells as a unique layer, and the distribution of thickened cells) seem to constrain the form of the open stomium.