17th Annual Student Research Conference
Science
Pollen and Anther Development in the Water Shield, Brasenia schreberi (Cabombaceae)
Mackenzie L. Taylor
Dr. Jeffrey M. Osborn, Faculty Mentor
Brasenia schreberi, commonly known as the Water Shield, is a water lily distributed throughout temperate and tropical regions of the Americas, Asia, Australia, and Africa. Brasenia is identified by floating leaves and thick mucilage that surrounds the underwater organs. Although characters regarding pollen development are useful in determining evolutionary relationships, this process has only been investigated in a limited number of water lilies, which are among the most primitive of all flowering plants. The objective of this project was to utilize light, scanning electron, and transmission electron microscopy to comprehensively document the events of pollen development in Brasenia. Histological, micromorphological, and ultrastructural data have been documented for all major ontogenetic stages, including microspore mother cells, tetrads, and free-microspores. Pollen at each stage was compared with regard to formation of pollen wall layers. The tetrad stage appears to be brief and variation in tetrad geometry has been identified in Brasenia.
Keywords: Brasenia, pollen, water lilies, Nymphaeales, Cabombaceae, pollen development, aquatic plants
Topic(s):Biology
Presentation Type: Oral Paper
Session: 22-4
Location: VH 1010
Time: 10:45