Summary
Where meiosis results in balanced gametes, preparations of pollen tetrads stained with Feulgen provide a simple, consistent source for measuring 1C DNA amount. The tetrad nuclear density is very close to that of root telophase nuclei, and the standard error of absorbance measurements is lower.
A technique for the preparation of tetrads for microdensitometry is described.
Similar content being viewed by others
Article PDF
References
Baetke, K P, Sparrow, A H, and Naumann, C H. 1967. The relationship of DNA content to nuclear and chromosome volumes and to radiosensitivity (LD50). Proc Nat Acad Sci USA, 58, 533–540.
Bennett, M D. 1976. The cell in sporogenesis and spore development, In Yeoman, M. M. (ed.) Cell division in plants, Experimental Botany, 7, 161–198. Academic Press, London.
Bennett, M D, and Jellings, A J. 1975. DNA content of colchicine-induced endopolyploid nuclei in Vicia faba L. Heredity, 35, 261–272.
Bennett, M D, and Smith, J B. 1976. Nuclear DNA amounts in angiosperms. Proc R Soc Lond B, 274, 227–274.
Jones, K, and Kenton, A. 1983. Complex interchange heterozygotes and homozygotes in the Commelinaceae, In Brandham, P. E. and Bennett, M. D. (eds.) Kew Chromosome Conference II, George Allen and Unwin, London.
Jones, K, and Kenton, A. 1984. Mechanisms of chromosome change in the evolution of the tribe Tradescantieae (Commelinaceae). In Sharma, A. K. and Sharma A. (eds.) Chromosomes in Evolution of Eukaryotic Groups Vol. II, C.R.C. Press, Florida, pp. 143–168.
Nagl, W, Frisch, B, and Frölich, E. 1979. Extra DNA during floral induction? Pl Syst Evol Suppl 2, 111–118.
Narayan, R K J. 1982. Discontinuous DNA variation in the evolution of plant species. Evolution, 36, 877–891.
Paroda, R S, and Rees, H. 1971. Nuclear DNA variation in eu-sorghums. Chromosoma (Berl.), 32, 353–363.
Price, H J, Bachmann, K, Chambers, K L, and Riggs, J. 1980. Detection of intraspecific variation in nuclear DNA content in Microseris douglasii. Bot Gaz, 141, 159–198.
Seal, A G, and Rees, H. 1982. The distribution of quantitative DNA changes associated with the evolution of diploid Festuceae. Heredity, 49, 179–190.
Verma, S C, and Rees, H. 1974. Nuclear DNA and the evolution of allotetraploid Brassicae. Heredity, 33, 61–68.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Kenton, A. Use of pollen tetrads for routine DNA densitometry. Heredity 53, 667–675 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1038/hdy.1984.125
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/hdy.1984.125