In vitro pollen germination of Neelakurunji - a semelparous plant species

Abstract

The Neelakurunji (Strobilanthes kunthianus) is a semelparous plant species which flowers once in every 12 years in Western Ghats of South India. For the first time, pollen germination medium to germinate kurunji pollen in vitro was developed and reported. The pollen germination medium developed by Brewbaker and Kwack medium was modified, also urea and multivitamin was added to develop a medium which supports more than 91% pollen germination in vitro. Kurunji pollen is elliptical and the pollen tubes peculiarly emerge from the belly of the pollen. This new pollen germination medium (PGM) consisted of 15% sucrose +15% PEG 4000 + 100 mgl–1 boric acid + 450 mgl–1 calcium nitrate +75 mgl–1 potassium nitrate+ 150 mgl–1 magnesium nitrate+ 50 mgl–1urea+200 mgl–1Neurobion forte(multivitamin tablet). Urea has been added as one of the constituents to pollen germination medium for the first time. Also the pollen viability and stigma receptivity were tested.