Abstract: Changes in the pattern of organization of microtubules in the developing microspore of rice ( Oryza sativa L. ) have been followed using immunofluorescence confocal microscopy. At the microsporocyte stage of development the cell possessed a network of highly branched and thickened microtubule bundles. In the central cytoplasm numerous bundles mn circumferentially around the nucleus. From the circumferentially distributed microtubule bundle network some microtubule bundles radiated towards the conical region of the cell. The microsporocyte after Meiosis Ⅰ became a dyad. In the dyad cell microtubule bundles emanated radially from the nucleus. In the cortex of the dyad cell some of the microtubule bundles became randomly oriented. The dyad then underwent Meiosis Ⅱ to become tetrad. Microtubule bundles in the tetrad cell radiated from the nucleus. No randomly oriented microtubule bundles were present in the cortical region of the tetrad cell. Mter- wards the four cells that made up the tetrad dissociated from each other and each became a microspore. At the early stage of the microspore development most of the microtubule bundles were randomly distributed. Later, some of the microtubules converged towards a bud-like cytoplasmic protrusion. This bud-like protrusion later developed into a germ pore (or pollen pore). At the late stage of microspore formation, microtubule bundles became thinner and reticulately oriented to form a tightly knitted network.

Key words: Oryza sativa, Micmspore, Microtubules, Confocal microscopy