HYDROCARBONS ASSOCIATED WITH THE DEVELOPING MICROSPORES IN THE ANTHERLOCULUS OF TULIPA

Hydrocarbons associated with the developing microspores in the anther loculus of Tulipa cv. Apeldoorn were investigated. They occurred mainl y at chain lengths between C-19 and C-29. At the lower chain lengths t he n-alkanes, at higher chain lengths the alkenes dominated. During mi crospore development the ratio of unsaturated to saturated hydrocarbon s in the extracts changed. While the content of all main hydrocarbons increased, the content of the alkanes C-19, C-21 and C-23 increased to 3.8, 3.4 and 3.3 times the initial value compared to 2.1, 2.0 and 2.2 times in case of the alkenes C-25, C-27 and C-29. Surface lipids from petals, leaves and ripe pollen were analyzed in comparison and these analyses confirmed that a high amount of alkenes was unique for micros pores. Iso-heptacosane was the main hydrocarbon from ripe pollen, hept acosene was a main component when microspore extracts were analyzed.