Crocus sativus pollen tube growth in intra-and interspecific pollinations

Abstract

Pollen germination and pollen tube growth were studied by fluorescence technique in pistil of Crocus sativus and C. thomasii after intra-and interspecific pollinations. The results indicated that C. sativus pollen germinates in low percentage in all the stigmas and some pollen tubes grow down to the ovules. In both the Crocus species the pollen tube growth is accompanied by anormalities of pollen tube behaviour and its tip aspect. Since most of these abnormalities are found in all the pistil parts it was not possible to correlate them with incompatibility in the studied plants. © 1984 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.