Stigmatic receptivity prior anthesis in a pseudogamous grass species

MARTÍNEZ, ERIC J.; ESPINOZA, FRANCISCO; QUARIN, CAMILO L.

Apomixis Newsletter

Yves H. Savidan and Charles F. Crane (Eds.)

Lugar: ORSTOM, Institut Français de Recherche Scientifique pour le Développement en Coopération, and Department of Soil & Crop Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station.; Año: 1992 p. 30 - 31

The process of the apomixis, in most of the apomictic species of Paspalum, includes several elements: the non-functionality of the meiosis in the ovule, the development of the female gametophyte from non-reduced nucellar cells, and the parthenogenesis. The objective was to establish how long before anthesis the stigmata of Paspalum notatum would already be receptive and if the anticipated pollination was able to set seed.  Flowers of a tetraploid, pseudogamous and apomictic cytotipe were emasculated and pollinated, from one to five two days before the anthesis. Results obtained of pollen germination, pollen tube growth and seed set shown that the fertilization is more effective   up to 72 hours before anthesis. These results indicate that in pseudogamous apomictic tetraploid P. notatum, the stigmata are receptive and the pollination is effective at least up to three days before anthesis, confirming that the ovules bear mature asposporous embryo sacs several days prior to anthesis.