Applications of fluorochromes to pollen biology. II. The DNA probes ethidium bromide and Hoechst 33258 in conjunction with the callose-specific aniline blue fluorochrome
- PMID: 2411020
- DOI: 10.3109/10520298509113906
Applications of fluorochromes to pollen biology. II. The DNA probes ethidium bromide and Hoechst 33258 in conjunction with the callose-specific aniline blue fluorochrome
Abstract
Techniques are described for detection of pollen grain and pollen tube nuclei using the fluorescent DNA probes ethidium bromide or Hoechst 33258, in conjunction with the aniline blue fluorochrome sirofluor, which stains the callose component of pollen tube walls and plugs. The DNA probes, which may be used either as vital stains or following fixation, permit discrimination between vegetative and generative or sperm nuclei. Double staining with sirofluor allows location of nuclei within pollen tubes grown in vitro, and when used after pollination enables the viewer to discriminate between nuclei within the pollen tube vs. nuclei of the pistil tissue.