Selective cell elimination during microsporogenesis in sedges

The underlying mechanisms responsible for elimination of three of the four meiotic products during microsporogenesis in sedges have remained obscure. Although programmed cell death (PCD) is known to be an integral part of pla nt development, several aspects, such as the enormous size difference betwe en functional and eliminated cells, nuclear viability of the smaller cells targetted for elimination and the possible dangers of employing PCD-like me chanisms during gametophyte development point to a novel way of selective c ell elimination associated with asymmetric division. This paper throws some light on the possible roles of cell plate dynamics and cell fate determina nts in pseudomonad development. The rarity and significance of asymmetric d ivision with morphogenetic consequences associated with meiosis are discuss ed in the context of generally prevalent, mitosis-associated asymmetric div isions during development.