Pollen coat signals and ovule penetration in Gasteria verrucosa (Mill.) H. Duval

Abstract

In his interesting chapter concerning “Homologies and Phytogeny” Michel Favre-Duchartre (1984) considers the “Pollen reception by female organ”. A short text expresses the pollination and progamic phase of gymnosperms and angiosperms. About the differences in the acceptation and germination of pollen between an open carpellar construction and a closed one in case of: “angiocarpy”, Favre-Duchartre notes:“ This phylogenetic tendency to the protection of female gametophytes by (1) nucellus, (2) ovular integument(s),(3) carpels, and (4) inferior ovary (produced either by caulinar proliferation or, more often, by concrescence of staminal and perianth bases with the surface over the ovary) has been compared by Mangenot (1973, p 53) to Russian dolls (my, Favre-Ducharte, translation):“ the female organ of angiosperms calls to mind the Russian dolls (those series of wooden dolls, the larger ones containing smaller and smaller ones): inside the gynoecium are found ovules; inside each ovule one discovers a megasporangium-nucellus, and within the latter a female prothallium”. Mangenot suggests that this process may be further promoted if the carpels themselves are completely protected.”