Pollen Tube Attraction by the Synergid Cell

• DOI: 10.1126/science.1062429
• Publication Date: 2002-07-27T09:53:24Z
• Authors: Tetsuya Higashiyama; Shizu Yabe; Narie Sasaki; Yoshiki Nishimura; Shin-ya Miyagishima; Haruko Kuroiwa; Tsuneyoshi Kuroiwa
• Keywords: Egg cell; Double fertilization

In flowering plants, guidance of the pollen tube to embryo sac (the haploid female gametophyte) is critical for successful fertilization. The target may attract as final step in pistil. We show by laser cell ablation that two synergid cells adjacent egg tube. A single was sufficient generate an attraction signal, and enhanced it. After fertilization, no longer attracts tube, despite persistence one cell. This cessation might be involved blocking polyspermy.