Pollen viability and germination in Elaeis oleifera, Elaeis guineensis and their interspecific hybrid

Abstract

Elaeis oleifera chromosomes are similar to those of E. guineensis, with close gene pools for the production of interspecific O x G hybrids. The pollen viability and germination of E. oleifera ‘Coarí’ and E. guineensis ‘La Mé’ were compared to their interspecific hybrid O x G (‘Coarí’ x ‘La Mé’). The pollen viability was determined by the acetocarmine staining method (0.5 %) and the pollen germination by in vitro incubation on agar-sucrose medium (1.2-11.0 g in 100 mL of distilled water). The pollen viability and germination of the ‘Coarí’ x ‘La Mé’ hybrid were significantly lower than those of their parents. The percentage of pollen viability by acetocarmine staining was higher than that of in vitro germination, indicating that not all pollen grains classified as viable germinated on the agar-sucrose medium. The pollen germination test is a more reliable indicator than the staining viability test, because the latter only reveals that the pollen contains the enzymes necessary to initiate germination, while the germination test determines the emission and development of the pollen tube.

KEYWORDS: Plant physiology, acetocarmine, pollination.