Megagametophyte development and female sterility in Maytenus obtusifolia Mart. (Celastraceae)

Reproduction in flowering plants is closely related to the megagametophyte, since the megagametophyte is involved in pollen tube reception and contains the two female gametes—egg cell and central cell. Previous conventional light microscopy methods have shown that female sterility in perfect flowers of Maytenus obtusifolia is associated with the occurrence of sterile ovules whose megagametophytes have hypertrophied synergids. Here, using...