Studies on the Generative Nuclear Division

III. Effect of exogenous ATP on the generative nuclear division in Lilium longiflorum

Abstract

Effect of exogenous ATP on the generative nuclear division in pollen tube of Lilium longiflorum has been studied. Culture of pollen tubes was carried out on a coverslip with one out of the three kinds of media; i.e., stigmatic exudate (s-e medium), artificial medium (normal medium), and the 1: 1 mixture of the twos before mentioned (half-tone s-e medium). The artificial medium was supplemented with a graded concentration of ATP, 0.01%, 0.05% and 0.1%, in the final concentration. Pollen tubes have grown to a length of about 1 centimeter seemingly in good health in all media. Pollen tube generative nuclear division carried out satisfactorily in regular fashion in the s-e medium while it progressed very slowly in the normal medium when no ATP was supplemented. But the mitosis was completely inhibited in the half-tone s-e medium. Addition of a suitable concentration of ATP to the normal medium as well as the half-tone s-e medium was slightly stimulative in recovering mitotic activity of the generative nucleus in pollen tube. Exogenous ATP, however, has not played a leading role in chromosome separation.