Fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) conjugated concanavalin agglutinin (Con A), wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) and soybean agglutinin (SBA) were used as probes to localize their specific receptors on the plasma membrane of generative cells (GCs) isolated from Vicia faba L., Iris tectorium Maxim. and Hippeastrum vittatum Herb. It is a further investigation on possible distributive dynamic of lectin receptors during the developmental process from generative cells to sperm cells. In the present study, all the three lectin receptors were found on the surface of generative cells of V faba and I. tectorium. However, on generative cells of H vittatum only Con A and WGA, but not SBA receptors were observed. The same lectin receptors on the generative cells from different species showed various distribution patterns. The distribution of various lectin receptors on the same generative cells also showed different characteristics. Lectin receptors were totally absent on some generative cells of all three investigated species. Polar distribution of lectin receptors was observed on tailed generative cells. The findings offer important clues to investigate sperm cell function and possible sperm dimorphism of surface glycoprotein.
