Premium
Growth of Alsike Clover Pollen In Vitro 1
Author(s) -
Benner L. R.,
Townsend C. E.
Publication year - 1973
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/cropsci1973.0011183x001300050013x
Subject(s) - pollen , pollen tube , germination , elongation , biology , sucrose , botany , distilled water , horticulture , pollination , chemistry , food science , materials science , chromatography , metallurgy , ultimate tensile strength
Pollen germination and pollen tube elongation in vitro and their relationship to self‐incompatibility were investigated in diploid alsike clover ( Trifolium hybridum L.). Of four culture media evaluated, the most suitable one contained 25% (w/v) sucrose, 100 ppm of CaCO 3 and 50 ppm of H 3 BO 3 in deionized distilled water. Pollen germination was 82% and average pollen tube length was 0.43 mm after 24 hours at room temperature. Pollen tube elongation was approximately 10% of that necessary to effect fertilization. In a subsequent study, sucrose concentration of the selected medium was varied as follows: 10, 25, and 35% (w/v). Pollen germination was best (92%) in the solution containing 35% sucrose, but pollen elongation was best (0.41 mm) in the 25% sucrose solution. Pollen germination and pollen tube elongation were the poorest at the 10% sucrose concentration. Germination and tube elongation appeared to be two separate processes with different nutritional requirements. Pollen from 25 plants representing 11 S‐allele genotypes was evaluated in vitro for percentage germination and tube elongation. Although there were differences among genotypes and among plants within genotypes for these characters, no relationship was established between pollen grain nutrition and S‐allele genotype. Tube elongation sufficient to effect fertilization was not obtained.