Central Tuber Crops Research Institute, Trivandrum-10
Anther development and microsporogenesis has been studied in the male sterile plants of Aglaonema birmanicum. Premeiotic stages of anther development was more or less normal. The male sterility is attributed to the persistance and non-degenerating nature of tapetum. Occasionally the wall of the tapetal cells disorganise and forms periplasmodium. The role of tapetum in the development of microspores is also discussed. However, a few flowers showed early degeneration of sporogenous tissue resulting in male sterility.
