Apospory in Paspalum thunbergii

Abstract

The cytology, development of aposporous embryo sac, pro-embryo and pseudogamy in Paspalum thunbergii Kunth ex Steud. was studied. P. thunbergii was found to be a tetraploid cytotype, with a chromosome number of 40. Meiosis of the pollen mother cells was irregular, pollen viability was low and multiporate pollens were often observed. Megasporogenesis began normally; however, the megaspore deteriorated at the developmental stage of tetrad, while one to five specific nucellar cells became active and began enlarging, and then developed into aposporous embryo sacs. The mature aposporous sacs usually had three nuclei characterised by one egg cell and two polar nuclei. The egg cell developed spontaneously to form pro-embryos prior to anthesis. When several aposporous sacs occurred in the same ovule, usually one sac near the micropyle was involved in pseudogamy, while the other sacs were not involved. Low frequency of twin-embryo seedlings was observed after seeds matured. Examination of three successive generations by paraffin-section and clearing methods revealed that no sexual sac was present. Therefore, the species P. thunbergii is considered to be an obligate apomict that reproduces by apospory.