Pollen Tube Research

Station 8: Pollen Tube Research

What is a pollen tube?
A pollen tube is a specialized type of cell that contains two sperm cells and the nucleus. The pollen tube is a haploid "cell within a cell."

What factors are important for pollen tube growth?

[Ca²⁺]_i is a chemical involved in regulating pollen tube growth. When scientists altered [Ca²⁺]_i levels the effect was detrimental to pollen tube growth. 

How does pollen reach the ovule?
First, pollen is deposited on the stigmatic tissue. If it is compatible, a pollen tube begins to grow at a rate up to 1cm/h. This pollen tube opens up to create a pathway for the pollen to travel into the ovary and ovules.

Advantages of cross-pollination:
Plants that cross-pollinate produce a stronger, "more vigorous" seed that has a higher chance of success. Cross-pollination also increases plant diversity when plants hybridize as a result of it.


SOURCES:

How pollen tubes grow
Alexander Krichevsky a,⁎, Stanislav V. Kozlovsky a, Guo-Wei Tian b, Min-Huei Chen a,
Adi Zaltsman a, Vitaly Citovsky a
a Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, State University of New York, Stony Brook, NY 11794-5215, USA
b Multi-Photon Imaging Facility, State University of New York, Stony Brook, NY 11794-5200, USA
Received for publication 5 August 2006; revised 16 November 2006; accepted 2 December 2006

http://www.plantcell.org/content/11/4/727.full
http://www.plantcell.org/content/16/suppl_1/S84.full