Project Topic / Abstract:
“Pollen and anther development in the giant water lily (Victoria, Nymphaceaeceae)”
Victoria is endemic to South America and comprises two species, Victoria amazonica and Victoria cruziana. Both species have been introduced into North America for mostly ornamental purposes, and these have been crossed to produce several hybrids. Victoria is one of eight genera of water lilies, a group widely regarded to be primitive among flowering plants. Although studies of pollen structure and development provide important evolutionary characters, little is known about these in Victoria. This study has used light and electron microscopy to investigate pollen and anther development in both species of Victoria and in the Longwood’ hybrid. The goal of this investigation is to comparatively document all major ontogenetic stages, including the sporogenous, microspore mother cell, tetrad, free-microspore, and mature stages. Although mature pollen grains of Victoria are held together in permanent tetrads, variation in tetrad morphology and the occurrence of polyads has been identified in `Longwood’ hybrid.
Publications:
- Taylor, M. L., P. J. Hudson, J. M. Rigg, J. N. Strandquist, J. S. Green, T. C. Thiemann, and J. M. Osborn. 2012. Tapetum structure and ontogeny in Victoria (Nymphaeaceae). Grana 51: 107-118. Article (PDF)
- Taylor, M. L., P. J. Hudson, J. M. Rigg, J. N. Strandquist, J. S. Green, T. C. Thiemann, and J. M. Osborn. 2013. Pollen ontogeny in Victoria (Nymphaeales). International Journal of Plant Sciences 174: 1259-1276. (Including color cover of journal issue for November/December 2013). Article (PDF)
Presentations:
2002
- Truman Undergraduate Research Symposium (Kirksville, MO)
