Abstract:

【Objective】 This study was conducted to investigate the relationship between Ca2+ distribution in anther and pollen abortion of photo-sensitive genic male-sterile rice during the anther development. 【Method】 Potassium antimontate was adopted to observe the distribution of Ca2+ in parenchyma, anther wall and pollen of photo-sensitive genic male-sterile rice line Nongken 58S and fertile line Nongken 58N during their anther development. 【Result】 The results showed that there were many differences between sterile and fertile anthers. In the fertile pollen, the calcium precipitates gradually accumulated on its surface, but hardly distributed in pollen cytoplasm; pollen wall could form completely. Whereas, in the sterile pollen, the distribution of calcium granules was obviously fewer on its surface compared with fertile pollen, but more abundant in cytoplasm; moreover, the pollen formed an abnormal cell wall. The tapetal cells of sterile anther began to degenerate ahead of time and the progress of degeneration was very slow. The sterile anther formed ubish bodies earlier than fertile anther, but had no calcium granules on its surface until late microspore stage. Furthermore, the calcium granules on the surface of ubish bodies were obviously less than in fertile anther. In general, there were much more calcium granules in anther wall of sterile anther than in fertile anther, except ubish bodies. During the development of anther, the calcium precipitates in parechymatous cells increased gradually, but at the same developmental stages, the sterile anther had more calcium granules than fertile anther. 【Conclusion】 It is concluded that the premature degradation of the tapetal cell and the abnormal function of ubish bodies lead to the hindrance in transport of Ca2+ to locule, and cause the deficiency of Ca2+ on the surface of pollen subsequently, as a result, the exines can’t form normally. In addition, Ca2+ assembles in pollen cytoplasm abundantly at late microspore stage, this is one of the most important factors which lead to pollen abortion.

Key words: photo-sensitive genic male-sterile rice, Ca2+ , pollen , anther wall, parenchyma