Morphometrics and Scanning Electron Microscopy of Pollen of Date Palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) PDF

Keywords

pollen, electron microscope, germination

Abstract

Pollen of seven staminate cultivars of date palm were collected from Al-Zafarania Agricultural Experimental Station, Baghdad and studied for pollen germination, pollen tube growth, number of pollen grains per flower and pollen morphometrics. The pollen was also examined by scanning electron microscopy for morphological differences in exine structure. Significant differences were found among the test cultivars in all the parameters tested. The highest pollen germination and pollen tube growth was observed for cv. Green Ghanami and the lowest was found in cv. Wardi. The greatest number of pollen grains was recorded in Green Ghanami flowers and the lowest in Red Ghanami. Scanning electron microscope study of pollen of the test cultivars revealed overall similarities in shape and size. The pollen grains are monosulcate, elliptical with one central closed germinal furrow. Exine of the test cultivars showed a tectate perforate pattern with considerable variations in the shape of the sculpturing appearance.