What are the Ubisch bodies in the tapetum?
The ubish bodies are the small lipid structures produced by the tapetum layer of cells. It helps in pollen development as it provides nutrients and essential materials for nourishment. They are mainly involved in pollen wall-exine formation ( the outer layer).
Ubisch bodies are found in many (but not all) angiosperms. Their presence, size, and arrangement are sometimes used as taxonomic markers to classify plant families. In some plants, Ubisch bodies mix with pollenkitt (a sticky tapetal secretion) to help pollen adhesion to pollinators.