Effects of nitrogen ion implantation on lily pollen germination and the distribution of the actin cytoskeleton during pollen germination

The effects of low energy nitrogen ion implantation on lily (Lilium davidii Duch.) pollen germination and the distribution of the actin cytoskeleton d uring pollen germination have been studied. Preliminary results showed that the ratio of pollen germination increased from (16.0 +/- 1.6)% to (27.0 +/ - 2.1)% when implanted with nitrogen ions by 100 keV and a dose of 10(13) i ons/cm(2). Further experiments were performed by staining the actin filamen ts in pollen with rhodamine-phalloidin and detected by using laser confocol microscopy. After hydration for 10 h, the actin filaments in ion implanted pollen grains tended to form thick bundles oriented in parallel or ring sh ape at the germinal furrow, indicating that the effect of nitrogen ion impl antation on the germination of pollen might be mediated by reorganization o f the actin cytoskeleton.