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GENERAL MORPHOLOGY AND RELATION BETWEEN POTASSIUM AND POLLEN IN JAPANESE ANGELICA (ARALIA ELATA L.)

MUHAMMAD JAMIL¹†, JONG GYUN KANG², AND EUI SHIK RHA³†

Abstract: Japanese angelica (Aralia elata L.) pollens were collected from the mature central open spikelet having visible anthers and were used for morphological observation. Scanning electron microscope revealed two distinctive types of pollen. One was comparatively larger in size and regular in shape (fertile) while the other was smaller and irregular in shape (sterile). Scanning electron microscope showed that pollen has clearly visible four apertures. It was hypothesized that potassium (K) may be involved in pollen swelling and the mechanisms underlying the rapid imbibition of water. Scanning electron microscopy with EDX (Energy dispersive X-ray) attachment was used to observe K at aperture area of pollen. It was found the K intensity were higher when the beam was passed through the aperture whereas intensity of K peaks reduced when the beam passed through the area that is between apertures. These results support our hypothesis that if K drives rapid imbibition of water then it should be located in the aperture area of pollen. These results demonstrate that a likely relationship exists between K located at the aperture and the swelling of pollen.

¹Department of Biotechnology, Kohat University of Science and Technology (KUST) Kohat 26000, Pakistan
²Center for University-Wide Research Facilities, Chonbuk National University, Jeonju 561-756, Korea
³College of Agriculture & Life Sciences, Sunchon National University, Suncheon 540-742, Republic of Korea