Pollen Tube Growth in Interspecific Crosses between Capsicum Species

Abstract

Crossing barriers between white- and purple-flowered species were examined. Four accessions of Capsicum annuum and three of C. pubescens were reciprocally crossed with one to four accessions of C. baccatum, C. cardenasii, C. chacoense, C. chinense, C. eximium, C. frutescens, C. galapagoense, and C. praetermissum. Capsicum chacoense is the only white-flowered species that inhibits C. annuum pollen tube growth but allows C. pubescens pollen tube penetration into the egg cell. Capsicum cardenasii and C. eximium exhibit similar crossabilities with C. annuum and C. pubescens: pollen tubes of C. cardenasii and of C. eximium can penetrate the egg cells of C. annuum but not vice versa, and pollen tubes of C. pubescens can penetrate the egg cells of C. cardenasii and of C. eximium but not vice versa.