SELECTION AND OPTIMIZATION OF IN VITRO POLLEN GERMINATION MEDIUM IN MAIZE (Zea mays L.)

K.J. MEGHANA¹*, J. NEETHA², R.L. RAVIKUMAR^3
1Department of Plant Biotechnology, University of Agricultural Sciences, GKVK, Bengaluru, 560065, India
²Department of Plant Biotechnology, University of Agricultural Sciences, GKVK, Bengaluru, 560065, India
³Department of Plant Biotechnology, University of Agricultural Sciences, GKVK, Bengaluru, 560065, India
* Corresponding Author : meghanamanavi@gmail.com

Received : 04-01-2020     Accepted : 27-01-2020     Published : 30-01-2020
Volume : 12     Issue : 1       Pages : 697 - 699
Genetics 12.1 (2020):697-699

Keywords : in vitro pollen germination, maize
Academic Editor : Dr Vlad Muresan
Conflict of Interest : None declared
Acknowledgements/Funding : Authors are thankful to Department of Plant Biotechnology, University of Agricultural Sciences, GKVK, Bengaluru, 560065, India.
Author Contribution : All authors equally contributed

The present study was undertaken with the aim of optimising a suitable pollen germination medium for in vitro germination of maize pollen grains. During kharif 2016, of the four pollen germination media evaluated, highest pollen germination percentage of 90.58 percent and a mean tube length of 915 µm was observed in the liquid medium PGM3. However, pollen grains did not germinate in both the solid media evaluated. When the experiment was repeated in kharif 2017 with the inclusion of two additional solid germination media, pollen grains failed to germinate on any of the solid media as well as in the liquid medium PGM3 which supported maximum pollen germination during kharif 2016. These results indicate the inconsistencies in reproducibility of in vitro maize pollen germination. The study needs to be continued with an attempt to understand the various factors that affect germination of maize pollen grains under in vitro conditions.

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