Cytological and Histological Studies on Reproductive System of Hexaploid Bellevalia edirnensis Özhatay & Mathew (Hyacinthaceae)

In this study anther wall, meiosis, sporogenesis and the development of female gametophytes of Bellevalia edirnensis were examined cytologically and histologically. The young anther wall consists of an epidermis, a single layered fibrous endothecium, 1–2 middle layers which disappear early, and a single-layered tapetum. In the glandular tapetum; normal mitosis, the “sticky” type of division and secondary nucleus divisions were observed. In most microspore mother cells the course of meiosis is regular. In some cells irregularities were observed including chromosome bridges and univalents. Cytokinesis is of the successive type and the tetrads are isobilateral. The ovules are anatrapous, bitegmic and crass-inucellate. The micropyle is formed by the inner integument. The female archesporium is unicelled and directly functions as the megaspore mother cell. The female gametophyte formed by the functioning cha-lazal megaspore is monosporic, of the Polygonum type.