Scientific paper about pre-treating pollen and cutting style

General Discussion
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Title: Manipulation of in vivo pollination techniques to improve the fertilization efficiency of interspecies crosses in the genus Phaseolus

Authors: Gurusamy, A. Vandenberg, K. E. Bett

Authors affiliation: Department of Plant Sciences, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5A8, Canada

Published in: Plant Breeding, volumn 126, pages 120-124, (2007).

Abstract: "Phaseolus angustissimus A. Gray contains genes for traits of interest for dry bean (P. vulgaris) breeders. F1 hybrids can be produced but introgression through backcrossing has been a problem. One of the main impediments is the time required between pollination and fertilization when F1 hybrids of P. vulgaris/P. angustissimus are backcrossed with P. vulgaris. In an attempt to reduce this time, the effect of alternative pollination techniques was studied. The rate and the time of fertilization were ascertained using three different pollen types (pollen germinated in vitro, fresh pollen (FP) mixed in pollen-germinating media and FP), and two methods of pollination (cut-style and stigmatic pollinations). An optimal in vitro pollen germination medium for Phaseolus pollen was developed. Low temperatures (6

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Wow, this is very interesting Henry.

I described the pollen germination assays I used in

Zlesak, D.C., 2004. The Hanging Drop Pollen Germination Assay, Rose Hybridizers Association

Newsletter, 35(3):10-12.

Pollen germinated very fast and in just a couple hours pollen tubes could be 20X or more as long as the diameter of the pollen grain. The solution was sucrose and boric acid. I wonder if we pollinate and come by later with a mist bottle and mist some one if it can help spur on pollen germination and development? Maybe if we pollinate and then mist in the evenings so it doesn’t dry as fast it could be more successful. I suppose the key to if it would help or not is to really understand the limiting step in some of our more difficult rose crosses. Maybe for some pollen germination and growth is the problem and for others the barriers come later. Cut styles could be worth a try too. I used it for lilies. It can disorientate the pollen tubes in some species, but as long as some get to the egg it is okay.

What other practical ways can others think of that we can try to explore how to use this information in roses?

Sincerely,

David