Study of pollen germination in pome fruit tree of Rosaceae family IN VITRO

Abstract

Pollination and fertilization are the basic factors affecting fruit setting volume and pollination is an essential 
component in fruit tree cultivation. The most important goal for fruit growers is obtaining high quantities and 
qualities yield in fruit industry which depends on sufficient fruit setting. Commercial fruit trees in Iran belong to 
stone and pome fruits of Rosaceae family with gametophytic self-incompatibility make necessary the selection of 
favorable pollinizer in breeding and orchard planning programs. Therefore, knowledge about pollen traits of the 
species and cultivars in this family is one of the main issues for growers and breeders. In this research, pollen 
germination and tube growth were studied in some cultivars and selected favorable genotypes of 6 genus 
including; apple, pear loquat, medlar, red hawthorn and quince. Pollen traits were investigated using IN VITRO 
medium containing 17% sucrose, 10 ppm acid boric and 1.2% agar. Cultured pollens were incubated in dark 
condition at 25°C for 24 h and then, pollen germination percentage and pollen tube length evaluated using light
microscope. Results showed significant differences among cultivars and finally favorable cultivars/genotypes of 
each genus with high pollen germination percentage and tube growth were selected to application in the future 
breeding and orchard establishment programs