AN EFFECTIVE METHOD FOR CULTURING POLLEN TUBES OF POTATO

In vitro culture of pollen tubes is a convenient way to distinguish inviable pollen from stylar incompatibilities which prevent pollen tube growth in vivo. This usefulness of in vitro pollen tube culture depends on how successful the technique is in promoting optimal pollen tube growth. Experiments were conducted to compare the effects of the type of sugar and method of aeration of cultures of Solanum species (potato) pollen. Lactose was superior to sucrose in promoting pollen germination and pollen tube growth on hanging drop cultures. Germination and growth were greatly enhanced when pollen was cultured in actively aerated lactose medium. Since pollen growth comparable to that occurring in vivo was observed using lactose medium with active aeration, this technique may be useful in various types of research related to reproductive biology.