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A Quantitative Method for the In Vivo Measurement of the Viability of Corn Pollen 1
Author(s) -
Walden D. B.,
Everett H. L.
Publication year - 1961
Publication title -
crop science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.76
H-Index - 147
eISSN - 1435-0653
pISSN - 0011-183X
DOI - 10.2135/cropsci1961.0011183x000100010008x
Subject(s) - library science , citation , crop , plant breeding , biology , horticulture , computer science , agronomy
T HE.RE are several distinct type-reactions of pollen grams: stainability, germinability, viability, and zygotic potential or fertilizing ability. Thus, stainability and germinability refer to in vitro pollen classification whereas viability and the fertilizing ability of the pollen grains necessarily are measured Jn vivo. Pollen viability may be defined as the ability of the male gametophyte to grow in suitable stylar tissue, and the fertilizing ability or zygotic potential of the pollen grain as the ability to complete fertilization. A method of analysis is described here for the consideration of data based on the number of kernels produced on an ear of corn, the kernels resulting from a controlled pollination. It is accepted that a kernel produced on an ear represents a pollen grain that was placed on the silk in a *’viable" condition. The method of analysis of corn pollen viability consists of an assay (referred to as the K assay), yielding data (referred to as K data) which are th6 number of kernels obtained on an ear from a controlled pollination, and the subsequent statistical analysis of these K data. The assay is the subject to be discussed, as the analysis of the data follows the standard analysis of variance procedures. The K data reflect, in addition to a measure of pollen viability, variation in the performance of the K assay from two sources--the "female" and the "male." The contribution of the female moiety to the individual K values concerns the number of ovules available for fertilization--and any factor that influences this availability. Experimental results will be introduced which show that the source of variability attributable to the female can be minimized and essentially controlled. Several factors may be concerned with the contribution of the male portion of the K assay to the variation of K data. In addition to the quality of the pollen, which is being measured, the quantity of pollen applied to the stigmal surfaces and the time of day during which the pollination was made can be listed among these factors. Thus, the K assay actually can be used to study several aspects of the pollination-fertilization phenomena prior to syngamy. Some of these aspects would be: