Observations on pollen viability, in vitro pollen germination and pollen tube growth in chlorophytum comosum (thunb) jacq. and asparagus officinalis, l.

The aim of the present investigation is to assess the pollen viability and in vitro germination in Chlorophytum comosum and Asparagus officinalis. Pollen viability was tested with 1 % acetocarmine and 0.5 % TTC stain. For in vitro germination different media with variable concentrations and compositions of sucrose and boric acid were used. Maximum in vitro pollen germination in sucrose (40%), boric acid (40 ppm), sucrose + boric acid (30 % sucrose + 50 ppm boric acid) was found to be 77.62, 76.18 and 79.56 % in Asparagus officinalis. In Chlorophytum comosum maximum in vitro germination in sucrose (30 %), boric acid (20 ppm) sucrose + boric acid (30 % sucrose +20 ppm boric acid) was found to be 86.25, 95.48, and 81.34 % respectively. The rate of growth of pollen tubes was higher in 30% of sucrose for both the species because sucrose is the best carbohydrate source for pollen germination and tube growth for most of the plants investigated. Sugar also maintains the osmotic pressure of the medium. The pollen tube length was increased with increase in the time of germination.