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EFFECT OF SALINITY ON POLLEN I. POLLEN VIABILITY AS ALTERED BY INCREASING OSMOTIC PRESSURE WITH NaCl, MgCl 2 , and CaCl 2
Author(s) -
Reddy P. R.,
Goss James A.
Publication year - 1971
Publication title -
american journal of botany
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.218
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1537-2197
pISSN - 0002-9122
DOI - 10.1002/j.1537-2197.1971.tb10025.x
Subject(s) - osmotic pressure , germination , pollen , pollen tube , salinity , botany , boric acid , sucrose , biology , osmoregulation , osmotic shock , horticulture , chemistry , biochemistry , pollination , ecology , organic chemistry , gene
Petunia ( Petunia hybrida Vilm. cv. ‘Snowstorm') plants were grown in saline solution (NaCl, MgCl 2 , and/or CaCl 2 ) of 0, 1, 2, and 3 bars osmotic pressures. Pollen viability was tested by tetrazolium chloride staining and by germination (by the hanging drop method, using 15 % sucrose and 0.01 % boric acid as the nutrient medium, at 27 ± 1 C). Pollen viability decreased with increased salinity. Pollen from plants grown in single salt solutions of NaCl, MgCl 2 , and CaCl 2 (each at 0, 1, 2, or 3 bars osmotic pressure) was germinated in base culture medium. Pollen viability decreased more with NaCl than with MgCl 2 or CaCl 2 . In vitro studies of the effects of three salts, viz., NaCl, MgCl 2 , and CaCl 2 , on pollen germination and tube growth showed that NaCl inhibited germination and pollen tube growth more than did MgCl 2 or CaCl 2 . MgCl 2 was least injurious, and even promoted tube growth at 0.5 and 0.75 bars osmotic pressure. Adding low concentrations of MgCl 2 reduced the toxic effect of NaCl and increased the percentage of germination. CaCl 2 reduced the effect of NaCl less than did MgCl 2 . We conclude that specific ion effects were more important than osmotic pressure.