Techniques for clearing ovules for studies of megagametophyte and early postfertilization development in Rhododendron

Using ovule clearing, more than 33,600 ovules of Rhododendron nuttallii T. W. Booth (Ericaceae) were examined for megagametophyte and early postfertilization stages at daily intervals from anthesis until 3 weeks after pollination. Pretreatments with amyloglucosidase to digest integumentary and gametophyte starch and Stockwell's bleach to remove tannins from the integumentary epidermis were necessary. Ovules were cleared by a combination or modifications of Herr's four-and-a-half or Stelly's hemalum-methyl salicylate techniques and were observed using differential interference contrast optics. The method proved suitable for large-scale quantitative studies of ovule development and fertilization. A general protocol is suggested as a starting point for ovule clearing studies.