Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

IN VITRO POLLEN GRAIN GERMINATION STUDIES IN ANTHURIUM (ANTHURIUM ANDREANUM LIND.)

Manjunath S. Patil and C. Aswath

Abstract

Pollen characters of sixteen varieties of Anthurium andreanum have been studied. It was observed that the species is protogynous. Anthesis occurred during early morning hours. The plant produces a large number of pollen grains per anther which are more or less uniform in size, round in shape with a single germ pore. Only a small percentage of pollen grains is fertile which reflects the hybrid nature of the species. Determination of pollen fertility by in vitro pollen germination method is found to be more accurate than by acetocarmine staining. Incubation for six hours was necessary for optimal germination and pollen tube elongation.