HortScience · 1989 · 68 citations · 0 references
Life SciencesPlant BiologyPlant SciencesPlant PhysiologyPlant Reproductive BiologyPollination EcologyPollen AnalysisPollen BiologyPollen GerminationPollen ViabilityPollination BiologyAlexander StainGermination CharacterizationGermination RateIn Vitro Pollen Germination AssaysPollen Quality AssessmentPollen Viability TestingSpecies Differences In Pollen Viability
Abstract Seven assays (hanging-drop slide and agar-plate germination, acetocarmine, three tetrazolium-based stains, and Alexander’s staining procedures) were used to estimate pollen viability in Prunus armeniaca L., P. avium L., P. dulcis Webb, P. persica (L.) Batsch, and P. salicina Lindl. The two in vitro germination tests (hanging-drop and agar-plate) were the most reliable and were highly correlated ( r = 0.96). The pollen staining procedures were not reliable or consistent and were not positively correlated with the in vitro assays. Acetocarmine and Alexander’s stains stained dead pollen.