BcMF8, a putative arabinogalactan protein-encoding gene, contributes to pollen wall development, aperture formation and pollen tube growth in Brassica campestris

Background and Aims The arabinogalactan protein (AGP) gene family is involved in plant reproduction. However, little is known about the function of individual AGP genes in pollen development and pollen tube growth. In this study, Brassica campestris male fertility 8 (BcMF8), a putative AGP-encoding gene previously found to be pollen specific in Chinese cabbage (B. campestris ssp. chinensis), was investigated.