% after 34 d for the eight species. Sarracenia leucophylla showed 12% germination and S. purpurea ssp. purpurea and S. purpurea spp. venosa var. burkii showed 10% and 18% germination, respectively. In vitro propagation from seed, shoot tips
Scarification treatments (a control, a 10-minute vacuum, or a 1.5-minute ultrasound), different media (modified Norstog and Van Waes) and growth regulators [benzyladenine (BA) at 0, 1, 1.5, or 2 mg·L-1 and 6-(r,r-dimethylallylamino)-purine riboside (2iPR) at 0, 1, 1.5 or 2 mg·L-1] were used in combination to increase seed germination of Cypripedium calceolus var. parviflorum. Seeds treated with ultrasound had higher germination (58.0%) than those treated with vacuum (27.4%) or controls (19.2%). Germination rates increased with 2iPR level and reached a maximum between 1.5 and 2 mg·L-1. Seeds on Van Waes medium, which were not transferred to fresh medium after germination, had a severe browning problem causing many protocorms to die. Those on Norstog medium continued to grow into seedlings with less browning. Germination rates of Calopogon tuberosus × Calopogon `Adventure' and Liparis liliifolia were determined on the different media and growth regulator treatments. Multiple shoots of Calopogon developed from single seeds on media containing growth regulators. Flower buds formed in vitro on Calopogon in media containing 1 mg·L-1 or higher BA 5 months after germination. L. Iiliifolia seeds in Norstog medium had a higher proportion of germination than those in Van Waes medium.
Abstract
Freshly harvested seeds of 10 Rubus crosses were germinated in vitro on modified Lepoivre medium without growth regulators. Among several seed preparation treatments, the best germination and subsequent survival in soil was achieved with halved seeds. In vitro germination bypassed the need for cool moist stratification and resulted in 57% to 81% germination within 8 to 12 days. This system provides an alternative method to secure high germination when a breeder is working with limited seed number, as in some interspecific Rubus crosses.
Abstract
In vitro germination of freshly collected pollen from pecan [Carya illinoensis (Wangenh.) C. Koch) was examined following exposure to relative humidities (RH) of ≈5%, 50%, and 97% and temperatures of 25, 35, and 45C in a factorial experiment. Maximum germination percentage occurred as RH increased and temperature decreased. Pecan pollen stored for nearly 2 years at −80C and −196C, but not −10C, retained germination capacity equal to freshly collected pollen if stored pollen was given a period of controlled rehydration before in vitro assay for pollen tube formation. Differences in germination of pollen stored at −10C and −196C were substantiated with the fluorochromatic test procedure as well as light microscopy. Pollen removed from storage at −196C and left at ambient laboratory conditions for 59 days retained the capacity for in vitro germination.
level. Plant materials The explants evaluated were type 1; leaves from in vitro-germinated seedlings, type 2; leaves from 6-month-old seedlings raised in green house, type 3; hypocotyls of somatic embryos type 4; leaves from coffee somatic embryos, type
Abstract
Seed from three octoploid (2n = 8x = 56) Fragaria species [F. × ananassa Duch., F. chiloensis (L.) Duch., and F. virginiana Duch.] and three diploid (2n = 2x = 14) species (F. vesca L., F. viridis Duch., and F. daltoniana J. Gay) were placed in vitro on water agar (WA) and ex vitro on 1 sand : 1 sphagnum (v/v) mix. Seed of the octoploid species germinated best regardless of medium. Octoploid species also exhibited better establishment on modified Boxus proliferation medium than the diploids. Five in vitro germination media were tested for F. vesca and F. × ananassa. Fragaria × ananassa germinated best when WA, or WA + sucrose (Su) + 0.1, or 0.05 strength Boxus proliferation nutrients (Nu) was used as the germination medium. Fragaria vesca showed no difference in germination on Su or Nu. However, establishment of F. vesca on proliferation medium was improved if Nu was included in the germination medium. Data indicated that selection for diploid genotypes with good in vitro establishment is possible.
Abstract
Pistachio (Pistacia vera L.) pollen was examined for capacity to germinate in vitro 2 days after anthesis and at intervals of time after storage at ambient laboratory conditions or at − 20°C. In 1986, fresh pollen of each of four clones examined had high germination percentages on a range of sucrose and agar concentrations. After 1 week at room temperature, germination percentages were < 6%. However, when the same week-old pollen was treated to effect gradual hydration at high humidity prior to being placed on the germination medium, germination increased to > 80% for ‘Peters’ pollen and 10.4% to 63.8% for the three other clones. In 1987, similar results were obtained for ‘Peters’ pollen, where pollen hydrated at high humidity had germination rates at least 50% that of fresh pollen when stored up to 18 days at ambient laboratory temperature and humidity. Pollen stored at −20° showed more exacting in vitro germination requirements than fresh pollen, particularly as time in storage increased. ‘Peters’ pollen retained germination levels comparable to fresh pollen after 4 months at −20°, but, by 12 months, germination percentages had fallen sharply.
Abstract
Conditions for in vitro germination of jojoba [Simmondsia chinensis (Link) Schneider] pollen were optimized in order to study the influence of storage temperature on viability. A medium consisting of 300 mg·liter−1 CaCl2·2H2O, 100 mg·liter−1 KNO3, 10 mg·liter−1 H3BO3, 20% sucrose, and 4% to 5% Difco Bacto-agar was optimal for germinating both fresh and stored pollen. Pollen germinated readily in media with a pH range of 4 to 8. The optimum incubation temperature range for pollen germination was 25° to 30°C. When stored at room temperature (22° to 25°), the initial pollen viability was decreased to 50% in 3 weeks and to 0% after 10 weeks, as determined by in vitro germination. Pollen stored at 4° maintained its initial viability for 10 weeks, followed by a gradual decrease in germination to 70% in 17 weeks and 0% after 22 weeks. Pollen stored at −196° in liquid nitrogen for 2 years retained a germination percentage as high as that of fresh pollen. The eryogenieally stored pollen, when used in controlled pollinations, produced normal fruit set comparable to that with fresh pollen.
Abstract
The morphology of pecan [Carya illinoensis (Wangenh C. Koch)] pollen from 4 cultivars was examined using light and scanning electron microscopy. Pollen was triporate, paraisopolar and suboblate, with a tectate and microechinate surface. The exine was thickened around pores. Pollen from the 4 cultivars was indistinguishable. Pollen germinated in vitro after 1 hr. Pollen tubes grew from 1 or 2 pores, with one germ tube becoming dominant. Pollen germination decreased dramatically after anther dehiscence. Less than 1% of the pollen germinated 5 days after collection.
In almond [Prunis dulcis (Mill.) D.A. Webb.], fungicide sprays are required to prevent blossom blight, which can infect open flowers. Numerous studies have reported detrimental effects of agrochemical sprays on pollination, fruit set, and yield in tree fruit crops. However, effects of fungicides on pollen germination and growth in almond are little known, particularly those from recently developed active ingredients. In this study we evaluated the effects of commercial formulations of 10 fungicides on pollen germination and tube growth in almond using in vitro assays. Assays conducted at 1/100 recommended field rates (RFR) were effective in delineating differences in almond pollen sensitivity to different fungicides. Captan and azoxystrobin were the most inhibitory, with germination percentages of less than 1% of the no-fungicide control. Germination was not significantly affected by propiconazole and benomyl. Intermediate inhibitory effects on pollen germination were observed with ziram, cyprodinil, maneb, thiophanate-methyl, iprodione, and myclobutanil. In contrast to germination, tube growth was less affected by the presence of fungicide. In pollen that germinated, tube elongation was the same as in controls in five of 10 of the fungicides evaluated. Nonetheless, azoxystrobin and captan reduced tube elongation by ≈90%. Some fungicide treatments also influenced tube morphology. In the absence of field evaluation studies, in vitro germination data may provide insight on how specific chemicals may impact pollination processes and further guide in vivo studies, particularly in the case of new chemical formulations.