DNA level in guard cells nuclei of Ornithogalum umbellatum ovary is 2C-4C

The DNA content after Feulgen reaction in the guard cells and epidermis of Omithogalum umbellatum ovary was cytophotometrically measured in different phases of flower development. Only in bud of flowers guard cells DNA content was 2C while in full blown flowers it was higher, between 2C-4C. This observation was supported by autoradiographic studies with 3H-thymidine which was incorporated into guard cell nuclei in the ovary epidermis of newly developed flowers. Thus DNA level in O. umbellatum guard cells was higher than those in other plants described in literature. On the other hand, DNA content in the epidermis cells increased gradually with ovary growth reaching the maximum level of 8C in some cells.