Plasmatubules in the pollen tubes of Nicotiana sylvestris

Abstract

Ultrastructural studies of the pollen tubes of Nicotiana sylvestris grown in the pistil revealed an extensive development of plasmatubules formed by evaginations of the plasma membrane. The plasmatubules occurred as twisted tubular structures in the periplasmic space along the tube wall and, in cross section, exhibited circular profiles with an outer diameter of 28±4 nm. They were also seen in deep, pocket-like invaginations of the plasma membrane and in this case the profiles had an outer diameter of 34±8 nm. In the pocket-like invaginations they were partially branched and often closely packed to form groups with obvious patterns. The enlargement of the plasma-membrane area resulting from plasmatubules formed along the tube wall was about six-to tenfold. Pollen tubes grown in vitro exhibited poorly developed plasmatubules. It is suggested that the large extension of the plasma membrane could enhance the uptake of nutrients, and thus might be responsible for the comparatively fast growth of pollen tubes in the pistil. Moreover, it is also assumed that the turnover rate of the Golgi apparatus must be higher in pollen tubes growing in vivo than in vitro, in order to provide a sufficient amount of membrane for the formation of the plasma membrane with its tubular modifications.