© 1992 Heron Publishing—Victoria, Canada
Effects of acidity and detergent on in vitro pollen germination and tube growth in forest tree species
Elena Paoletti
Laboratorio di Botanica Forestale, Dipartimento di Biologia Vegetale, Piazzale delle Cascine 28, 50144 Florence, Italy / Received August 23, 1991
Summary
The presence of 1 to 3 mg 1–1 sodium dodecylbenzensulfonate detergent, or a growth medium pH of 4.0–5.0, inhibited pollen germination and pollen tube elongation
more in broad-leaved trees than in conifers. In the broad-leaved species, pollen germination and pollen tube elongation showed
similar sensitivities to detergent and acidity, whereas in the conifers, pollen tube elongation was more sensitive than pollen
germination to detergent and acidity. Although the germination percentage was low, conifer pollen germinated in the presence
of detergent concentrations up to 15 mg l–1 and at acidities as low as pH 2.5 or 3.0. Pollen germination of most broad-leaved species was completely inhibited in the
presence of detergent concentrations of more than 3–5 mg l–1; the only exceptions were some entomophilous species (e.g., Salix caprea L.) in which the ability of the pollen to germinate in high pollutant concentrations could be related to the presence of
tryphyne.
