Fertilization of Barley (Hordeutn distichutn L.)

Abstract

Fertilization of barley has been studied and photographically recorded. The pollen grain germinates almost immediately after attaching itself to the stigma, pollen tube reaches the embryo sac after 20–30 minutes (temperature 26°C). One of the sperms permeates immediately to the oosphere, the other joins polar nuclei migrating from the oosphere to antipodal cells after the discharge of pollen tube content. Fertilization of the polar nucleus occurs in most cases at the antipodal cells which have pronounced haustorial character. In triple fusion polar nuclei do not usually fuse prior to fertilization. However, some exceptions were noted: sometimes the fertilization takes place after the fusion of polar nuclei or during the fusion. Being slower, pre-mitotic fertilization of the egg cell could be studied in greater detail.