Dynamics of pollen tube growth in Hyacinthus orientalis L.

Abstract

The pollen tube is essential for sexual reproduction of plants, as it ensures the delivery of male gametes cells into ovule.Edification of pollen tube by elongation of vegetative cell from pollen grain, growth rate of pollen tube, its response to orientation signals to ovule micropyle and to other extracellular factorsare fascinating aspects of pollen biology, which recommend pollen tube as a model for studying the behavior of plant cells.This study focuses on dynamics of in vitro growth of pollen tube of Hyacinthus orientalis on nutrient mediums with different carbohydrate compositions. 15% sucrose medium ensured growth of the longest pollen tubes exceeding 5000 μm just 24 hours after inoculation. Those pollen tubes increased at least another 96 hours, but at low rates, remaining viable.Pollen tubes grown on glucose mediums were significantly shorter, not exceeding 1080 μm.The length of pollen tube indicates its efficiency in fertilizing ovule.