Pollen and Pollen Tube Biology

This volume explores a collection of experimental techniques used to investigate different aspects of pollen development and function, including its role in reaching the ovule and delivering the two sperm cells. The techniques discussed range from basic methodology to cultivate pollen in vitro to the sophisticated experiments involving micromanipulation, Lab-on-Chip technology, or high-end imaging. The chapters in this book cover topics such as pollen grain counting using a cell counter; restricted pollination for tracing individual pollen tubes in a pistil; obtaining mutant pollen for phenotypic analysis and pollen tube dual-staining; analyzing intracellular gradients in pollen tubes; and measuring exocytosis rate in Arabidopsis pollen tube using corrected fluorescence recovery after photoconversion (cFRAPc) technique. Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series format, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Cutting-edge and thorough, Pollen and Pollen Tube Biology: Methods and Protocols is a valuable resource for novice and expert scientists interested in learning more about the field of plant reproduction.