XVI International Botanical Congess

This study reports results of the use of amylase to digest starch grains from ovule tissue of rapid cycling Brassica nigra. Descriptions of early ovule development through megagametogenesis of rapid cycling B. nigra using a modified version of Herr clearing fluid are improved with the pretreatment of amylase. Seeds obtained from Crucifer Genetics Cooperative were grown under artificial light, whole flowers fixed in formalin, propionic acid, and 50% ETOH, stored in 70% ETH and hydrated before enzyme treatment. Whole ovules were cleared after enzyme treatment revealing better results using phase microscopy to record megaspore mother cell through mature embryo-sac development.