Determination of pollen viability, germination ratios and morphology of eight apricot genotypes


Asma B. M.

AFRICAN JOURNAL OF BIOTECHNOLOGY, cilt.7, sa.23, ss.4269-4273, 2008 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 7 Sayı: 23
  • Basım Tarihi: 2008
  • Dergi Adı: AFRICAN JOURNAL OF BIOTECHNOLOGY
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Sayfa Sayıları: ss.4269-4273
  • İnönü Üniversitesi Adresli: Hayır

Özet

Turkey is a leading apricot producing country, with the majority of dried apricot production centered in Malatya. Currently, there are breeding programs to develop superior apricot cultivars for several different utilizations. Determining the components of reproduction biology is critical for optimizing yields from apricot orchards and is therefore important for breeding programs. In this study, the pollen viability and germination ratios were determined for eight apricot cultivars. The genotypes tested included a local cultivar (Kabaasi), foreign-origin cultivars (Roksana and Canino), and selections from the inonu University program (Levent, Ozal, Akyurek, 44-2005-01, 44 K 07). The results indicated that viable, semi-viable and dead pollen rates differed among cultivars, where Roksana had the least amount of viable pollen (41.5%). The genotypes had their highest germination rates at 20 degrees C, whereas Roksana and Levent had the lowest germination rates (46.8 and 48.5%). The germination rates were also affected by sucrose concentrations, and media containing a 15% sucrose concentration had the highest germination rates, while Roksana again had the lowest germination rate (36.4%). While the differences in anther number/flower were not significantly different among genotypes, there were significant differences in pollen number for both anther and flower bases. 44-2005-01 and Canino had the highest pollen numbers. Pollen morphology was also evaluated using a Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). Although some size and index differences were measured, the pollen of the genotypes was generally similar in morphology. The findings provide important insight into improving our understanding of apricot reproduction biology.