The effect of temperature on pollen germination and pollen tube growth of pear cultivars

Abstract

The effect of three different temperatures (8, 16 and 24°C) on pollen germination and length of pollen tube in vitro was investigated in four pear cultivars (‘Butirra Precoce Morettini’, ‘Williams’, ‘Conference’ and ‘Abate Fetel’). The temperature showed a significant effect on in vitro pollen germination. The highest pollen germination was determined at a temperature of 24°C (53.25%), somewhat lower at 16°C (44.72%) and the lowest at 8°C (23.16%). The temperature effect was significantly more pronounced on the length of pollen tube. Pollen tube length was about three times higher at the temperatures of 16 and 24°C compared to 8°C. The temperature of 8°C was not sufficient for pollen germination and pollen tube growth in pear cultivars. However, temperatures of 16 and 24°C were optimal for pollen germination and pollen tube growth. [Projekat Ministarstva nauke Republike Srbije, br. TR 31063: Primena novih genotipova i tehnoloških inovacija u cilju unapređenja voćarske i vinogradarske proizvodnje]

Keywords

• Pyrus communis
• temperature
• pollen germination in vitro
• pollentube length