Recent advance on boron in wheat reproduction - a mini-review

The present review hypothesised possible mechanisms by which B deficiency during the microsporogenesis around meiosis caused male sterility in wheat anthers, based on the recent research findings on effects of B withdrawal during meiosis on anther growth and pollen sterility. Boron deficiency during the early microsporogenesis may have affected the development and functions of anther wall cells (endothecium and tapetum). In particular, the supply of sucrose to the rapidly elongating anthers and sucrose metabolism in tapetum and microspores may have been disturbed by B deficiency, leading to the malformation of microspore and loss of male fertility.