Open Access

ARTICLE

Histological analysis of pollen-pistil interactions in sour passion fruit plants (Passiflora edulis Sims)

HÉRIKA CHAGAS MADUREIRA^1*, TELMA NAIR SANTANA PEREIRA¹, MAURA DA CUNHA², DENISE ESPELLET KLEIN³

1. Laboratório de Melhoramento Genético Vegetal, Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro, Av. Alberto Lamego 2000 - Horto, 28013-602, Campos dos Goytacazes - RJ, Brazil.
2. Laboratório de Biologia Celular e Tecidual, Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro, Av. Alberto Lamego 2000 - Horto, 28013-602, Campos dos Goytacazes - RJ, Brazil.
3. Laboratório de Anatomia Vegetal, Universidade Federal do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro - RJ, Brazil.

*Address correspondence to: Hérika Chagas Madureira. E-mail:

BIOCELL 2012, 36(2), 83-90. https://doi.org/10.32604/biocell.2012.36.083

Abstract

The success of sexual plant reproduction is directly influenced by specific interactions between the pollen and pistil. Light, fluorescence and scanning electron microscopy techniques were used to evaluate the steps of pollination in sour passion fruit plants (Passiflora edulis Sims). In the compatible interaction, pollen tubes grow through stigma projections towards the ovary. The pollen grain surface was found to be spheroidal and to consist of heteroreticulate exine with six colpi. Furthermore, analysis in vivo of pollenpistil interactions indicated that stigmas of flowers 24 hours before anthesis are unable to discriminate compatible (genetically unrelated) and incompatible (genetically related) pollen grains. Taken together, these results provide insight into the cellular mechanisms underlying pollination in passion fruit plants.

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