title: Ability of Pollen to Germinate prior to Anthesis and Effect of Desiccation on Germination.
abstract: The ability of pollen to germinate prior to anthesis was tested using Easter lily (Lilium longiflorum L.) and corn (Zea mays L.). Lily pollen normally dries to a low moisture content between anthesis and pollination while corn does not. The corn pollen germinated well (about 73%) when removed from anthers 1 day before anthesis and placed on culture medium. The lily pollen germinated poorly (0 to 5%) when harvested one to six days before anthesis. However, the lily pollen harvested one or two days before anthesis gave greatly improved germination (about 55%) after it was dried to a low moisture content. The results indicate that an internal control prevents premature germination of lily pollen and that drying is the final stage of pollen maturation. A different sort of regulatory mechanism must operate to prevent premature germination of corn pollen.
authors: Department of Horticulture, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois 61801-4777.
authors: J J
authors: JJ
authors: Lin
authors: D B
authors: DB
authors: Dickinson