Anther Development in Zea mays: Changes in Protein, Peroxydase, and Esterase Patterns

In order to study the male developmental programme in maize ( Zea mays L.), stages of microspore and pollen were characterized during post-meiotic differentiation by a fluorochromatic nuclear stain and scanning electron microscopy. Then proteins of anthers at different stages were separated by isoelectric focusing and electrophoresis. Total proteins, peroxydases and esterases were revealed on the gels. All the patterns show that three sequences of development can be differentiated: the first from tetrad to mid-binucleate stage, the second from mid-binucleate to late tricellulate stage, and the third corresponding to specific pollen metabolism. These results are discussed in relation with the activation of haploid genome.