EFFECT OF NONANOL AND RELATED FUNGAL SPORE STIMULATORS ON GERMINATION OF POLLEN OF SEVERAL PINUS SPECIES

Germination rate of pollen of Pinus echinata, Pinus rigida, Pinus syluestris, and Pinus strobus was stimulated by 10 to 50 µL/L of nonanol incorporated in 2% water agar. A related compound, nonanal, and 6-methyl-5-hepten-2-one were previously reported to be endogenous stimulators of germination of uredospores of Puccinia graminis var. tritici (stem rust of wheat) and other rust spores. At 25 µL/L concentrations, octyl thiocyanate, octyl cyanide, citral, rhodinol, safrol, and geraniol stimulated germination of pollen of P. strobus at 24 h. Nonylamine inhibited germination. Nonanol was most effective of the 7-to 11-C linear alcohols in stimulating germination of pollen of P. strobus. Pollen tube length (P. strobus) was stimulated about 23% by 25 µL/L of nonanol in 48 h at 22 °C. © 1979, American Chemical Society. All rights reserved.