Hq. Tian et al., ISOLATION OF THE MALE GERM UNIT - ORGANIZATION AND FUNCTION IN TOBACCO (NICOTIANA-TABACUM L.), Plant cell reports, 18(1-2), 1998, pp. 143-147
Sperm cells are released from pollen tubes of tobacco as linked cells,
associated with the vegetative nucleus in an assemblage known as the
male germ unit (MGU). Using light microscopy, the MGU assemblage appea
rs to be ensheathed by cytoplasmic material of the pollen tube, which
may stabilize their association. Following their release, the shape of
the sperm cells and vegetative nucleus changes from an ellipsoidal to
a more spheroidal morphology. When most of the cytoplasmic material i
s dispersed, a boundary remains around the two sperm cells. Using scan
ning electron microscopy, the cytoplasmic material surrounding the MGU
appears filamentous, sometimes twisted and rope-like. Based on these
observations, the function of the MGU of tobacco is discussed.