ELECTRON MICROSCOPE STUDIES ON COLD PRETREATED AND NON-PRETREATED ANTHERS OF MAIZE (ZEA MAYS L.) GENOTYPES WITH DIFFERENT EMBRYOGENIC CAPACITIES

The relationship between ultrastructural changes in the anthers caused by cold pretreatment and the haploid induction capacity of different maize genotypes was investigated. The degeneration of the tapetal cells appears to be genotype-dependent, but the extent of the degeneration is not correlated with the androgenetic ability of the given genotype. Based on the stainability of the cytoplasm, two microspore types were found. The results suggest that the “dense” microspores take part in pollen embryogenesis.