Embryo sac development in some South African cultivars of Lantana camara

Abstract

Twenty embryo sacs from each of 20 different  Lantana camara L. cultivars naturalized in South Africa were examined. The normal sexual embryo sacs were monosporic 8-nucleated embryo sacs of the polygonum type and were encountered in 55% of the material examined. Several deviations from this pattern were recorded. Occasionally one of the nuclei failed to develop into a synergid, resulting in three polar nuclei.

Contrary to published information, the antipodal cells did not increase in size, nor was there an increase in the number of nuclei per cell. Although the occurrence of sexuality is confirmed, no definite evidence exists for the occurrence of apomixis. The occurrence of two embryo sacs per locule might be the result of either apospory or of sexuality whereby two embryo sacs were formed from two megaspores.