In Vitro Germination of Eucalyptus Pollen: Response to Variation in Boric Acid and Sucrose

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Abstract
The effect of boric acid (0-450 ppm) and sucrose (0-40%) on pollen germination and pollen tube growth in Eucalyptus globulus, E. morrisbyi, E. ovata and E. tirnigera was examined in vitro. Over the con- centrations tested, sucrose had by far the largest effect upon both pollen germination and tube lengths. The optimum sucrose concentration for pollen germination (30%) and pollen tube growth (20%) differed markedly with very little ( E. ovata > E. morrisbyi = E. urnigera. Pollen germination and tube growth of all four species on a medium comprising 20% sucrose and 200 ppm boric acid would not differ significantly from the observed maximum response of each species and this could suffice as a generalised medium. However, if only percentage germination is to be assessed 30% sucrose would be preferable. It is argued that subtle interspecific differences in optimal in vitro con- ditions for pollen germination and pollen tube growth are likely to reflect differences in pollen physiology which in vivo may have important implications for the success of hybridisation where pollen competition occurs.

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