"Epicuticular Waxes" from Exine Material of Pine Pollen

Abstract

Pinus m ugo T urra, Pinaceae. Pollen, Wings, Localization of Epicuticular Waxes "Epicuticular waxes" from pine pollen and from pollen wings have been investigated. Various hydrocarbons, aldehydes, wax esters, free fatty acids and primary alcohols in the form of homologous series were identified. A noteworthy observation was the presence of a large num ber of unsaturated fatty acids.A lthough there were quantitative differences between the waxes from whole pollen and pollen wings, the distribution patterns of chain lengths of the individual compounds were very similar.It is dem onstrated unequivocally, through the use of pollen wing m aterial, that the waxes are com ponents of the exine. It is postulated that the pollen waxes provide an additional effective mechanism for protection against the effects of the physical and chemical environm ent.

Hydrocarbons Associated with the Developing Microspores in the Anther Loculus of Tulipa

“…Pollen accumulates complex mixtures of waxes on and in the surface (Niester et al, 1987;Bianchi et al, 1990). therefore the occurrence of long chain hydrocarbons in the loculus at some point during development is to be expected.…”

Ontogeny of the Calliandra – massulae (Mimosaceae: Ingeae), and the associated viscin body

“…With the viscin body it turns out that complex lipophilic, wax-like mixtures are not exclusively tied to the epidermis (cf. Niester et al, 1987).…”