A book for cell, molecular, and developmental biologists, physiologists (organ level), biomedical scientists, biochemists studying cell-cell interactions, cell variation and evolution. This volume provides an overview of recent accomplishments in sexual reproduction in flowering plants that have altered our concepts of fertilization research. With special emphasis on the past 10 years, this work addresses both molecular and structural bases of reproduction, from gene expression in pollen development to self-incompatibility mechanisms and experimental approaches to obtaining in vitro fertilization of isolated gametes. Additionally, detailed information is provided about the organization of angiosperm gamates that is otherwise unavailable, including their isolation, physiology, cytoskeleton, and organization. The book provides some of the first reviews of the molecular biology of incompatibility; features emerging concepts about flowering plant reproduction (including the male and female germ units as the functional units of fertilization); emphasizes emerging technologies such as molecular approaches to haploid cells; includes papers on sexual transformation, ovule and ex ovulo in vitro fertilization; and serves as a fundamental background for reproductive cell manipulation and reproductive cell engineering.