Chinese Bulletin of Botany ›› 2013, Vol. 48 ›› Issue (4): 429-437.DOI: 10.3724/SP.J.1259.2013.00429

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Ultrastructure Observation of Double Fertilization in Oryza sativa

Xin Guo1, Jiaheng Shen1*, Yanjie Wang2, Wei Li1, Yuechan Zhao1   

  1. 1Key Laboratory of Plant Biology, College of Heilongjiang Province, College of Life Sciences and Technology, Harbin Normal University, Harbin 150025, China;

    2College of Life Sciences, Ludong University, Yantai 264025, China
  • Received:2012-06-20 Revised:2012-09-08 Online:2013-07-01 Published:2013-08-09
  • Contact: Jiaheng Shen

Abstract: We used transmission electron microcopy to examine the process and ultrastructure of double fertilization in Oryza sativa. Such fertilization exhibits a unique fusing between the female and male nucleus. Direct fusion occurs only between the nuclear membranes of the female and male nucleus, instead of via mediating organelles, regardless of the presence of karyogamy between the sperm nucleus and egg cell nucleus or between the sperm nucleus and polar nucleus (secondary nucleus). Furthermore, the sperm nucleus attaches to the persistent synergid 3.5 h after pollination.