Flavanols in Somatic Cell Division and Male Meiosis of Tea (Camellia sinensis) Anthers

Abstract

Young anthers excised from closed tea flower buds (Camellia sinensis L.) were stained as fresh tissues with p-dimethylaminocinnamaldehyde reagent to localize flavanols associated with nuclei and chromosomes, apart from those flavanols stored in vacuoles. This staining reagent yields a blue colour for flavanols. In the nonsporogenic somatic cells of developing anthers, flavanols were found to be attached to chromosomes at all mitotic stages. Male meiosis started at a bud size of about 3.5 mm in diameter in pollen mother cells which displayed generally more or less pronounced blue nuclei and cytoplasm. The meiotic divisions from prophase I to telophase II were characterized by blue stained nuclei and chromosomes, but within the cytoplasm there was, if any, a random and very poor reaction for flavanols. Metaphase and telophase of meiotic divisions showed maximally condensed chromosomes staining dark blue. Early in telophase II, the cytoplasm was again stained blue; this faded at late tetrad stage. Flavanols of young mitotic and older non-mitotic anthers were determined using high pressure liquid chromatography - chemical reaction detection (HPLC-CRD). Catechin, epicatechin, B2, and epigallocatechin were minor compounds, whereas epicatechin gallate and epigallocatechin gallate were found in higher amounts. The major flavanol compound of the anthers, epicatechin gallate, exhibited a significant affinity to histone sulphate, as shown by UV-VIS spectroscopic titration.

Key words

Tea - anthers - flavanols - mitosis - meiosis

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Editor: E. Pichersky