Impact of sucrose and boric acid on in vitro pollen germination of Ceiba pentandra L.
Pradyut Biswas1 and Subrata Mondal2*
1Department of Botany, Netaji Mahavidyalaya, Arambagh, Hooghly, West Bengal – 712601 (India) 2Department of Botany, Visva-Bharati, Santiniketan, West Bengal -731235 (India) Email: *submondal@rediffmail.com (Author for correspondence)
ABSTRACT
Studies on in vitro pollen germination and pollen tube length were carried out in Ceiba pentandra L. of the family Bombacaceae. Maximum 96% of pollen germination along with 4140±2211.48 μm pollen tube growth was recorded in 15% sucrose solution (C12H22O11) supplemented with 100 μg/ml boric acid (H3BO3). Pollen abnormalities were recorded due to swelling and thickness of pollen tube and were recorded in sucrose solution but addition of boric acid facilitated an increased pollen germination as well as pollen tube elongation. Combine effect of sucrose and boric acid was significantly better than individual impact of sucrose alone on rate of in vitro pollen germination as well as pollen tube length. The pollen grains collected immediately after anther dehiscence (17:30-18:30 hrs.) showed best germination, but gradually decreased in course of time. The result revealed that sucrose acts as substrate for proper nutrition, while boric acid play active role on in vitro pollen germination as well as pollen tube elongation in the studied plant.