Anther and pollen infection in relation to the pollen and seed transmissibility of two strains of barley stripe mosaic virus in barley

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Abstract
Anther and pollen infection in relation to seed and pollen transmission were studied for two different strains of barley stripe mosaic virus in 'Atlas' barley. Examination of sectioned anthers and pollen revealed that the seed- and pollen-transmitted isolate of the virus (MI-1) invaded the floral meristem of the host early and subsequently infected the pollen mother cells and sperms. During the premeiotic and meiotic stages of anther and pollen development, most virions of MI-1 were seen attached to microtubules, including those of the spindle. In later stages, the association of virions with microtubules diminished. Usually, MI-1 caused no apparent interference with normal mitosis and meiosis during development of anthers and pollen in central florets. Occasionally, however, the virus induced degeneration in anther and pollen-precursor cells before and during meiosis. By comparison, virions of the NSP strain, a strain which is not seed or pollen transmitted, could only be detected in wall cells of a single mature anther. None were discovered in the floral meristem or in pollen. It was also shown with unsectioned material that infection with either virus adversely affected anther and pollen development and that infection by MI-1 increased seed sterility.

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