Ultrastructural localization of acid phosphatase in the pollen tube of Prunus avium L. (sweet cherry)

Activity of selected hydrolytic enzymes in Allium sativum L. anthers

The aim of the study was to determine enzymatic activity in sterile Allium sativum anthers in the final stages of male gametophyte development (the stages of tetrads and free microspores). The analysed enzymes were shown to occur in the form of numerous isoforms. In the tetrad stage, esterase activity was predominant, which was manifested by the greater number of isoforms of the enzyme. In turn, in the microspore stage, higher numbers of isoforms of acid phosphatases and proteases were detected. The development of sterile pollen grains in garlic is associated with a high level of protease and acid phosphatase activity and lower level of esterase activities in the anther locule. Probably this is the first description of the enzymes activity (ACPH, EST, PRO) in the consecutives stages of cell wall formation which is considered to be one of the causes of male sterility in flowering plant.

The effect of isolated components of Prunus avium L. styles on in vitro growth of pollen tubes

A number of components isolated from styles of P. avium cv. Napoleon (S 3 S 4) have been tested for their capacity to influence in vitro growth of pollen tubes from fresh and stored pollen (cv. Napoleon (S 3 S 4)). An antigenic glycoprotein (Antigen S) is a potent inhibitor of in-vitro pollen tube growth, causing a 65% reduction in tube length at a concentration of 20 μg/ml. None of the other style components were effective inhibitors of pollen tube growth; neither were proteins of animal origin such as histone, serum albumin, cytochrome C, and the glycoproteins ovalbumin and thyroglobulin, effective inhibitors.