[Male-female recognition during sexual reproduction in flowering plants]

In flowering plants, the recognition reactions occur between male and female partners at the stigma level or along the style and in the embryo sac between the gametes. The study of these biological events implies to check the viability of the two partners. Interacting molecules are glycoproteins. A cDNA coding for the stigma protein molecules has recently been cloned. The specific pollen molecules have been also characterized. They are glycoproteins which are localized at the periphery of the grain and rapidly diffuse. These recognitive molecules present some analogies with pollen allergens.