Dr. Karoly: Plant Evolution

Pollen and Spore Images

Below are observational data that provide information about the composition of pollen and spores as it relates to the number of nuclei they contain and the chemical composition of their wall.

Number of nuclei in pollen and spores

DAPI binds to DNA and thus allows the location of nuclei to be determined, as they will stain a bright blue.
Spores of a moss and a fern and pollen from a conifer and a flowering plant were each stained with DAPI and visualized under UV fluoresence.

Look at the spores and pollen and look for brightly colored (blue) structures inside.
Do spores and pollen have the same number of nuclei?

clicking on an image will open a new window with a larger version of the image (approx. 800 x 600).

 

Staining by basic fuchsin in pollen and spores

Basic fuchsin is the stain component of Calberla's Pollen Stain which is used to differentiate pollen grains from other materials in geology (palynology) and in meterological sampling for allergens (aerobiology). Basic fuchsin positively stains the outer layer of the pollen grain wall (the exine) a dark pink to red color.
Spores of a moss and a fern and pollen from a conifer and a flowering plant were each stained with basic fuchsin and visualized under visible-light illumination.

We expect pollen to stain dark red because this stain is used as a way to identify pollen.
Do the spores also stain the dark red color seen in the pollen?

clicking on an image will open a new window with a larger version of the image (approx. 800 x 600).

 

Pollen and Spore Image Collections on the Web