Plant Biol (Stuttg) 2005; 7(2): 168-175
DOI: 10.1055/s-2005-837472
Research Paper

Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart KG · New York

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

W. Feucht1 , D. Treutter1 , H. Dithmar2 , J. Polster2
  • 1Department für Pflanzenwissenschaften, Fachgebiet Obstbau, Wissenschaftszentrum Weihenstephan (WZW), Technische Universität München, 85350 Freising, Germany
  • 2Department für Biowissenschaftliche Grundlagen, Fachgebiet Physikalische Biochemie (Lehrstuhl für Biologische Chemie), Wissenschaftszentrum Weihenstephan (WZW), Technische Universität München, 85350 Freising, Germany
Further Information

Publication History

Received: September 22, 2004

Accepted: December 9, 2004

Publication Date:
09 February 2005 (online)

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.

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W. Feucht

Department für Pflanzenwissenschaften
Fachgebiet Obstbau
Wissenschaftszentrum Weihenstephan (WZW)
Technische Universität München

Alte Akademie 16

85350 Freising

Germany

Editor: E. Pichersky

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