RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Pollen Tube Attraction by the Synergid Cell JF Science JO Science FD American Association for the Advancement of Science SP 1480 OP 1483 DO 10.1126/science.1062429 VO 293 IS 5534 A1 Higashiyama, Tetsuya A1 Yabe, Shizu A1 Sasaki, Narie A1 Nishimura, Yoshiki A1 Miyagishima, Shin-ya A1 Kuroiwa, Haruko A1 Kuroiwa, Tsuneyoshi YR 2001 UL http://science.sciencemag.org/content/293/5534/1480.abstract AB In flowering plants, guidance of the pollen tube to the embryo sac (the haploid female gametophyte) is critical for successful fertilization. The target embryo sac may attract the pollen tube as the final step of guidance in the pistil. We show by laser cell ablation that two synergid cells adjacent to the egg cell attract the pollen tube. A single synergid cell was sufficient to generate an attraction signal, and two cells enhanced it. After fertilization, the embryo sac no longer attracts the pollen tube, despite the persistence of one synergid cell. This cessation of attraction might be involved in blocking polyspermy.