THE ESTIMATION OF POLLEN VIABILITY IN RICE

Methods for testing pollen viability in rice were evaluated by comparing staining with aniline blue in lactophenol, two tetrazolium salts and fluorescein diacetate with germination in an in vitro culture medium. Staining with thiazolyl blue (MTT) was nicely correlated with germination. Under non-saline conditions, rice pollen was only viable for a short period of time, with an approximately 50% loss of viability within 20 min of shedding. When plants were salinized at either panicle initiation or the booting stage, pollen viability was reduced.