Objective: To compare the difference of anther and pollen growth between Liriope spicata var. prolifera and L. spicate, and investigate the mechanism of the sterility of Liriope spicata var. prolifera.
Methods: A comparative study on anther and pollen growth process was carried out between L. spicata var. prolifera and L. spicata by means of paraffin section.
Results: In L. spicata, the tapetum was secretory tapetum and began to degrade during dyad stage. The cells of tapetum and middle layer disappeared thoroughly when pollens were fully mature at 3-celled stage. In L. spicata var. prolifera, the degradation of the tapetum took place at the early time of meiosis stage and the tapetum cells inflated like vacuolization. The mononuclear pollens were abortive, which eventually formed abnormal pollens.
Conclusion: The pollen abortion of L. spicata var. prolifera is associated with tapetum heteroplasia and degradation in advance.