Summary
Cell-wall-softening enzymes affect the plasticity of the tip wall of pollen tubes and modity tube elongation. Length of pear pollen tubes is increased by the addition of β-1,3-glucanase at the beginning of in-vitro germination. The longer tubes after 3 hours are primarily the result of earlier germination. Application of β-1,4-glucanase or pectinase to germinating pollen does not affect germination but enhances the growth rate of 1-hour-old pollen tubes. The stimulating effects of β-1,4-glucanase and pectinase are additive. Denatured enzymes had no effect. Proteinase, pectin esterase, acid phosphatase and α-amylase only inhibited growth and germination. Replacing the medium 1 hour after germination begins stops pollen-tube growth; growth can be restored by adding cellulase-pectinase mixtures to the replacement medium. These results provide evidence that cellulase and pectinase are important in pollen-wall extension, and that callose-hydrolyzing enzymes are involved in pollen germination but not wall extension.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bonner, J.: On the mechanics of auxin induced growth. In: Plant Growth Regulation, p. 307–328. Ames: Iowa State Univ. Press 1961.
Brewbaker, J. L., and B. H. Kwack: The calcium ion and substances influencing pollen growth. In: Pollen Physiology and Fertilization (H. F. Linskens, ed.), p. 143–151. Amsterdam: North-Holland Publ. Co. 1964.
Cleland, R.: Auxin and wall extensibility: Reversibility of auxin induced wall-loosening process. Science 160, 192–194 (1968).
Cormack, R. G. H.: A further study on the growth of Brassica roots in solutions of pectic enzymes. Canad. J. Bot. 36, 983–989 (1956).
Currier, H. B.: Callose substance in plant cells. Amer. J. Bot. 44, 478–488 (1957).
Dashek, W. V., and W. G. Rosen: Electron microscopical localization of chemical components in the growth zone of lily pollen tubes. Protoplasma 61, 192–204 (1966).
Datko, A. H., and G. A. Maclachlan: Indoleacetic acid and the synthesis of glucanases and pectic enzymes. Plant Physiol. 43, 735–742 (1968).
Ekdahl, I.: On the growth mechanism of root haris. Physiol. Plantarum (Cph.) 10, 708–806 (1957).
Fan, D. F., and G. A. Maclachlan: Studies on the regulation of cellulase activity and growth in excised pea epicotyle sections. Canad. J. Bot. 45, 1837–1844 (1967).
Górska-Brylass, A.: Cytomorphological studies of callose in pollen tubes. Acta Soc. Bot. Pol. 34, 757–762 (1965).
Green, P. B.: On mechanisms of elongation. In: Cytodifferentiation and Macromolecular Synthesis (M. Locke, ed.), p. 203–234. New York and London: Acad. Press 1963.
Jackson, W. T.: Effect of pectinase and cellulase preparations on the growth and development of root hairs. Physiol. Plantarum (Cph.) 12, 502–510 (1959).
Johri, B. M., and I. K. Vasil: Physiology of pollen. Bot. Rev. 27, 325–381 (1961).
Linskens, H. F.: Pollen physiology. Ann. Rev. Plant Physiol. 15, 255–270 (1964).
—, and J. M. L. Mulleneers: Formation of “instant pollen tubes”. Acta bot. neerl. 16, 132–142 (1967).
Lockhart, J. A.: Cell extension. In: Plant Biochemistry (J. Bonner and J. E. Varner, eds.), p. 826–849. New York and London: Acad. Press 1965.
Masuda, Y., and S. Wada: Effect of β-1,3-glucanase on the elongation growth of oat coleoptile. Bot. Mag. (Tokyo) 80, 100–102 (1967).
Roggen, H. P. J. R., and H. F. Linskens: Pollen tube growth and respiration in incompatible intergeneric crosses. Naturwissenschaften 20, 542–543 (1967).
Rosen, W. G.: Chemotropism and fine structure of pollen tubes. In: Pollen Physiology and Fertilization (H. F. Linskens, ed.), p. 159–166. Amsterdam: North-Holland Publ. Co. 1964.
—: Ultrastructure and physiology of pollen. Ann. Rev. Plant Physiol. 19, 435–462 (1968).
Sassen, M. M. A.: Fine structure of Petunia pollen grain and pollen tube. Acta bot. neerl. 13, 175–181 (1964).
Stanley, R. G., and D. des S. Thomas: Pollen enzymes and growth. Proc. Ass. So. Agric. Workers 64, 265 (1967).
Thomas, D. des S., and J. T. Mullins: Role of enzymatic wall softening in plant morphogenesis: Hormonal induction in Achlya. Science 156, 84–85 (1967).
Tischler, G.: Untersuchungen über den Stärkegehalt des Pollens tropischer Gewächse. Jb. wiss. Bot. 47, 219–242 (1910).
Tupý, J.: Callose formation in pollen tubes and incompatibility. Biol. Plant. (Praha) 1, 192–198 (1959).
Waterkeyn, L.: Callose microsporocytaire et callose pollinique. In: Pollen Physiology and Fertilization (H. F. Linskens, ed.), p. 52–58. Amsterdam: North-Holland Publ. Co. 1964.
Zinger, N. V., and T. P. Petrovskaya Baranova: The coat of a pollen grain as a living physiologically active structure. Dokl. Akad. Nauk SSSR 138, 466–469 (1961).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
A contribution of the Florida Agricultural Experiment Station, Journal Series No. 3069.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Roggen, H.P.J.R., Stanley, R.G. Cell-wall-hydrolysing enzymes in wall formation as measured by pollen-tube extension. Planta 84, 295–303 (1969). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00396421
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00396421