POLYETHYLENE-GLYCOL IMPROVES THE IN-VITRO GROWTH OF BRASSICA POLLEN TUBES WITHOUT LOSS IN GERMINATION

The culture media for the in vitro pollen assay of Brassica species have so far shown good percentage germination, but limited pollen tube growth. It is reported here that by lowering sucrose concentration from 20% to 5 or 10% and by adding polyethylene glycol 4000 in the culture medium, high percentage germination and high tube growth (10 times that in the standard media) can be achieved in three species of cultivated Brassica. This improved medium should be useful in fundamental and applied studies on the pollen biology of Brassica species.