Generative and sperm cell isolation in Bauhinia blakeana (Fabaceae)

Abstract

Bauhinia blakeana (Fabaceae) pollen is bicellular and contains only a vegetative and generative cell at anthesis. The pollen grain contents, including the generative cell, can be released in vitro following osmotic shock. In this study, when pollen grains were incubated in a 10% sucrose and 5%-15% polyethylene glycol 4500 (PEG 4500) medium, over 50% of the pollen grains germinated and formed a short pollen tube. However, the generative cell did not divide in in vitro pollen tubes. In vivo pollen tubes were induced to grow from the style using an in vivo-in vitro method. Sperm cells were subsequently isolated from broken pollen tubes.