Pollen wall development in flowering plants.
The outer pollen wall, or exine, is more structurally complex than any other plant cell wall, comprising several distinct layers, each with its own organizational pattern. Since elucidation of the basic events of pollen wall ontogeny using electron microscopy in the 1970s, knowledge of their developmental genetics has increased enormously. However, self-assembly processes that are not under direct genetic control also play an important role in pollen wall patterning. This review integrates ultrastructural and developmental findings with recent models for self-assembly in an attempt to understand the origins of the morphological complexity and diversity that underpin the science of palynology.
Blackmore
Stephen
S
Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, 20a Inverleith Row, Edinburgh EH3 5LR, UK.
Wortley
Alexandra H
AH
Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, 20a Inverleith Row, Edinburgh EH3 5LR, UK.
Skvarla
John J
JJ
Department of Botany - Microbiology, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK 73019-0245, USA.
Rowley
John R
JR
Botany Department, University of Stockholm, SE-106 91, Stockholm, Sweden.
D002473:Cell Wall / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D019684:Magnoliopsida / Q000166:cytology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development; D008540:Meiosis; D011058:Pollen / Q000254:growth & development / Q000648:ultrastructure*