The Influence of Glutathione and Glutathione Antagonists on Meiosis in Excised Anthers of Lilium henryi

Young anthers, in early prophase and in the premeiotic mitotic stage, were excised and cultivated under aseptic conditions on media containing glutathione and/or several sulfhydryl antagonists. 1. Meiotic induction in excised anthers, not yet in prophase, is possible and is not dependent on addition of glutathione. 2. The formation of the wall structures of young microspores is dependent on the availability of sulfhydryl groups. Formation is inhibited reversibly by p-chloromercuribenzoic acid and irreversibly by cystine and iodoacetic acid. 3. It is suggested that inhibition of cross wall formation and separation of microspores in cultured anthers may be due to a lack of energy or substrate reserves.