湿地植物大花百合种群的性系统特征

开花植物性系统特征是植物在长期适应进化过程中逐渐形成的繁殖策略, 它在一定程度上影响了物种的种群结构及其在生境中的分布格局, 因此性系统特征一直是植物进化与生态学领域的研究热点。本研究于2012年和2020年在吉林省金川泥炭沼泽湿地, 通过样地调查取样的方法, 研究了湿地植物大花百合(Lilium concolor var. megalanthum)的性系统特征以及不同性别表型植株的比例、密度及空间分布格局, 并探究了大花百合植株个体大小和其性别表达的联系, 比较了不同性别表型的花粉实际可育性和来源不同的花粉授粉处理结实后的种子活力。结果显示, 个体水平上, 大花百合具有雄花植株、两性花植株和雄花两性花同株(即雄全同株) 3种性表型; 种群水平上, 具有雄花的个体充当父本, 通过花粉向下一代传递基因, 而具有两性花的个体主要充当母本, 通过胚珠实现基因的传递。2020年大花百合雄花植株占种群内开花植株的39.14%, 相比2012年雄花植株比例增加了22.80%; 大花百合种群分布密度为0.06株/m², 较2012年下降了0.09株/m²。从2012年到2020年, 总体表现为种群密度降低, 雄花植株相对比例增加的趋势。两性花植株和雄花植株在小尺度范围主要呈聚集分布, 随着尺度增大, 趋于随机分布。雄花植株显著小于两性花植株, 但鳞茎资源分配显著高于两性花植株。大花百合植株的性表达遵循大小依赖的性分配假说: 个体较小的植株表达为雄花植株, 而个体较大的植株则为两性花植株或雄全同株。在不同授粉处理下的结籽率和种子萌发结果表明, 大花百合自花授粉结籽率和坐果率显著低于异花授粉, 雄花植株和两性花植株花粉可育性以及对两性花植株授粉后所获得种子活力无显著差异。大花百合雄花植株的出现可能是对有限环境资源条件适应的结果, 反映了湿地条件下该植物在生长和繁殖资源之间的权衡策略, 在长期的湿地演变过程中, 这种性系统特征的出现具有一定的适应性意义。     

钝叶柃不同性别花的花部形态与传粉特征比较

据有关资料记载,柃属(Eurya Thunb.)植物属于雌雄异株植物,目前仅在柃木(Eurya japonica Thunb.)中有过两性花的报道。近年的调查发现,钝叶柃(Eurya obtusifolia H.T.Chang)也有性别变异,存在两性花。在对其性别特征及功能研究的基础上,进一步跟踪了钝叶柃的开花和传粉过程,对不同性别花的花部形态和传粉特征进行了比较分析。在重庆市北碚区选取了4个样地,测定了花部形态、花朵朝向、花粉活力、柱头可授性、花粉对水的耐受性、单花花粉量和单花泌蜜体积等形态和传粉相关指标,并对其开花动态、传粉昆虫种类和昆虫传粉行为进行了仔细观察,还进行了套袋试验。结果发现钝叶柃不同性别花的花部形态和传粉特征既有一些共同点,又存在着明显差异,性别变异株则呈现出雌雄植株间的过渡特征。钝叶柃是一种花期短,花小而多,开花同步性高的植物,雌花和雄花色味相同。该植物的主要传粉方式为虫媒,主要传粉者为两种蜜蜂科昆虫,但风媒也在其传粉中起着一定作用。该植物不同性别花的主要差异有:1)雄花呈灯笼状,花瓣不反卷,雌花辐射状,花瓣反卷;2)雄花较雌花大;3)雄花倾向于垂直朝下,雌花倾向于斜向下朝向枝条末端;4)雌花寿命较雄花长。钝叶柃在开花和传粉上的许多特征都在一定程度上体现了其对雌雄异株性系统的适应。相应地,传粉者在不同性别植株上的行为也存在一定差异。钝叶柃不同性别花在形态上的差异是其周围各种生物因素及非生物因素共同作用的结果,其中传粉昆虫和雨水的选择可能在这些差异的塑造中起着重要作用。     

Pollen viability and limitation of seed production in a population of the circumpolar cushion plant, Silene acaulis (Caryophyllaceae)

Pollen viability among genders and limitation of female seed production in a natural trioecious population of the circumpolar cushion plant Silene acaulis was examined. Pollen viability was estimated by an in vitro pollen germination experiment. Both male and hermaphrodite flowers displayed large variation in pollen viability (0–53% in hermaphrodite and 0–54% in male flowers). There was a significant difference between genders in pollen viability: male plants had on average higher pollen viability than hermaphrodite plants. Resource and pollen limitation of seed production was studied by an experiment consisting of three treatments; (I) hand-pollination and removal of all other flowers on the cushion, (II) hand-pollination without removal of other flowers, and (III) open pollination without removal of flowers. Hand-pollination increased seed production, whereas removal of flowers had no effect on seed production. Abortion of pollinated ovules during seed development and seed mass did not differ among treatments. To control for effect of fruit number on seed production, data from naturally pollinated individuals was used. There was a positive correlation between both total number of seeds and fruit number, mean seed number per fruit and fruit number, respectively. These results indicate that seed production of 5. acaulis is mainly limited by pollen availability whereas resource competition between fruits is not important as a limiting factor. The possible role of male quality differences between genders and pollen limitation of seed production for maintenance of trioecious reproductive systems is discussed.     

Sex Expression and the Evolutionary Advantages of Male Flowers in an Andromonoecious Species, Sagittaria guyanensis subsp. lappula (Alismataceae)

Sex expression in Sagittaria guyanensis H.B.K. subsp. lappula (D. Don) Bojin is typically andromonoecious while the other species in the same genus are basically monoecious. The evolutionary advantages of male flowers and hermaphrodite flowers in S. guyanensis subsp. lappula were assessed by measuring sex allocation and pollen movements in two wild populations of the species. Two cultivated populations served as controls. The percentage of male flowers was very low in the two wild populations in Dongxiang, Jiangxi Province and Wuyishan, Fujian Province, viz., 2.48% and 0.96% respectively. In the two cultivated populations, male flower percentage significantly increased when the soil was of higher nutrient content. This indicates that the allocation to male versus female reproduction might change in response to environmental factors. Pollen production per male flower was 4.1 times higher than that of a hermaphrodite flower. The floral shape and size of male and hermaphrodite flowers were similar. No difference was observed between these dimorphological flowers in pollen germination rate in vitro and in the speed of pollen tube growth in vivo. Anthesis was only 4-5 h. Male flowers usually opened 0.5 h earlier than hermaphrodite flowers. An unexpected finding was that no pollen from the male flowers was found on the stigmas of the hermaphrodite flowers, in spite of the occasional visits by insects to both types of flowers in both wild and control populations. A consistent pattern of fruit development was found to exist in open pollinated flowers as well as in flowers that had been bagged. The sex ratios did not have significant influence on fruit set. Approximately 25% of the pistils in a gynoecium failed to develop into fruits because no pollen was deposited on them, indicating that the fruit set of this andromonoecious plant is mainly affected by pollen limitation rather than resource limitation. Reproduction in S. guyanensis subsp. lappula in the habitats was dependent on self-pollination in hermaphrodite flowers. The male flowers in this species might be a potential source of additional pollination and may facilitate cross-pollination. The fact that the flowers of monoecious species in Sagittaria pollinated by a wide diversity of insect visitors may contribute enormously to the diversification of sex expression in this genus.     

中国北亚热带油橄榄(城固32)开花生物学特性研究

为研究北亚热带内陆地区油橄榄（Olea europaea L.）开花物候、开花样式及花器官特征,探讨其有性繁殖系统的特点。试验对西秦岭南坡地区油橄榄（城固32）的开花生物学进行研究,统计开花进程,雄花和两性花在花序上的着生位置和数量,测定雄花和两性花形态指标并切片观察,电镜扫描分析雄花与两性花花粉粒。结果表明：（1）在北亚热带北缘内陆气候条件下油橄榄花期集中在5月,单株花期15~20 d,盛花期持续4~6 d;（2）油橄榄具有雄全同株的性系统且花器官较小,雄花及两性花都具有正常发育的雄蕊。通过制作石蜡切片观察,发现两性花的雌蕊正常发育,而雄花只有较小的子房和败育的柱头;（3）雌蕊是两种花型花器官生物量差异的主要部位,两性花雌蕊的生物量明显比雄花大（P<0.01）,树体分化出雄花投入的资源更少;（4）雄花与两性花在花粉量、花粉粒大小上差异不显著,在着生位置上,花序轴顶花全部为两性花,雄花出现在花序轴的中部和基部的几率分别是21.13%和30.77%。油橄榄品种城固32具有典型的雄全同株现象,雄花更倾向于在花序上出现的位置在行使它雄性功能方面并无优势可言,而且雄花花粉粒在数量、活力方面也没有优势,但是雄花的出现增加了花粉数量和P/O值,提高了植株的雄性适合度,雄花的出现也降低了两性花落花导致的树体资源浪费,保障其在资源有限的环境中能够繁殖最大化。     

The effectiveness of heterostyly in preventing illegitimate pollination in dish-shaped flowers

Heterostyly is thought to have evolved because it confers efficiency of cross-pollination. While it can be an alternative to an incompatibility mechanism in tube-shaped flowers, its effectiveness in dish-shaped flowers, such as those of Fagopyrum esculentum, has not been demonstrated. Stigmatic pollen loads were examined over the daily course of pollination in a planted field of this crop species. Natural pollination by bees resulted in 23% of the pollen on pin flowers and 69% on thrum flowers being legitimate. Both flower morphs therefore received the two pollen types in about the same proportions. Pin pollen constituted 74% of the pollen delivered to stigmata, even though the two morphs are present in equal numbers. Pin flowers collected about 75 pollen, and thrum flowers about 25 pollen by the end of the day of anthesis. The net result was about 15 compatible pollen per flower on both floral morphs. These results indicate that heterostyly is associated with excess pin-pollen delivery rather than excess legitimate-pollen delivery in F. esculentum.     

Pollen-stigma interference in two gynodioecious species of Lamiaceae with intermediate individuals

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Intermediate individuals (perfect flowers with very high degree of pollen abortion) in a gynodioecious plant species are very rare. A study is made of male-female relationships in each flower type and how floral characters can enhance the avoidance of 'pollen discounting' and 'self-pollination' in two gynodioecious species, Teucrium capitatum and Origanum syriacum. METHODS: The relationship between stigma receptivity and pollen viability was studied in two gynodioecious protandrous species of Lamiaceae, in addition to measuring some floral morphological characters over the life span of the flowers. KEY RESULTS: Three plant types in each species were found: plants bearing hermaphrodite (or male fertile) flowers (MF), female (or male sterile) flowers (MS) and intermediate flowers (INT). Plant types differed in flower size, with MS types being shorter than the other two types. There was no difference in style length among plant types in T. capitatum. Stigma receptivity decayed with floral age and was negative and significantly correlated with pollen viability in the two species, and positive and significantly correlated with style length in O. syriacum but only in MS flowers of T. capitatum. CONCLUSIONS: Reduction in size of floral characters is associated with male sterility, except style length in T. capitatum. MF flowers have two successive reproductive impediments: self-pollination and pollen-stigma interference. In both species, self-pollination is avoided by dichogamy (negative correlation between stigma receptivity and pollen viability), and pollen-stigma interference shows two different patterns: (1) style elongation in O. syriacum is characterized by a significant length increase, final MF dimensions are greater than those of MS dimensions, and style length is positively and significantly correlated with stigma receptivity; and (2) style movement in T. capitatum is characterized by a non-significant increase in style length, final MF floral dimensions are similar to those of MS dimensions, and there is no correlation between style length and stigma receptivity.     

冠果草的性表达状态及其进化含义

通常认为雄花两性花同株是植物性表达两性花进化到雌雄异株的过渡类型之一。慈姑属仅冠果草（Ｓａｇｉｔｔａｒｉａ ｇｕｙａｎｅｎｓｉｓ Ｈ．Ｂ．Ｋ．ｓｕｂｓｐ．ｌａｐｐｕｌａ（Ｄ．Ｄｏｎ）Ｂｏｊｉｎ）的性表达为典型的雄花两性花同株,其他种为雌雄同株。对冠果草野外和实验居群的性配置进行了定量观察。东乡和武夷山居群雄花的比例分别为２．４８％０．９６％。实验表明,栽培条件影响冠果草的性表达：在营养较好的条件下     

雄全异株植物瘿椒树（省沽油科）的传粉生物学

从开花动态、传粉昆虫、花的形态结构、繁育系统、花粉活力和柱头可授性等方面研究了我国特有珍稀植物瘿椒树（Tapiscia sinensis Oliv.）的传粉生物学特性。瘿椒树是典型的雄全异株植物,两性花中含有功能性花粉,且自交亲和,但雄花花粉活力和萌发力是两性花的10倍以上。雄株和两性植株具有相同开花物候期,花期均为5月下旬至6月上旬,单花期为4-5天,雄花和两性花的5枚花药开裂的不同步性明显延长了散粉时间。两性花雌蕊先熟,柱头可授性较长。具有适应风媒和虫媒传粉的花部特征。传粉昆虫主要为蜜蜂科（Apidae）和食蚜蝇科（Syrphidae）昆虫,访花高峰期为8：30-10：30。维持瘿椒树雄全异株的可能机制是：雄株总体上增加了异交花粉的数量和质量;两性花的雄蕊为该物种提供了繁殖保障,同时为传粉者提供了报酬。     

雄全异株植物瘿椒树(省沽油科)的传粉生物学

从开花动态、传粉昆虫、花的形态结构、繁育系统、花粉活力和柱头可授性等方面研究了我国特有珍稀植物瘿椒树(Tapiscia sinensis Oliv.)的传粉生物学特性。瘿椒树是典型的雄全异株植物,两性花中含有功能性花粉,且自交亲和,但雄花花粉活力和萌发力是两性花的10倍以上。雄株和两性植株具有相同开花物候期,花期均为5月下旬至6月上旬,单花期为4-5天,雄花和两性花的5枚花药开裂的不同步性明显延长了散粉时间。两性花雌蕊先熟,柱头可授性较长。具有适应风媒和虫媒传粉的花部特征。传粉昆虫主要为蜜蜂科(Apidae)和食蚜蝇科(Syrphidae)昆虫,访花高峰期为8:30-10:30。维持瘿椒树雄全异株的可能机制是:雄株总体上增加了异交花粉的数量和质量;两性花的雄蕊为该物种提供了繁殖保障,同时为传粉者提供了报酬。     

SEXUAL ALLOCATION AND ANDROMONOECY: RESOURCE INVESTMENT IN MALE AND HERMAPHRODITE FLOWERS OF SOLANUM CAROLINENSE (SOLANACEAE)

Male and hermaphrodite flowers from the andromonoecious perennial Solanum carolinense were compared. Hermaphrodite flowers were 11–16% heavier than males, and this difference was consistent for two clones studied. Hermaphrodite flowers contained a greater amount of nitrogen than did male flowers, but males had higher percent nitrogen. Male and hermaphrodite flowers had equal investment in male structures: stamen mass, number of pollen grains, mass of pollen grains ejected by vibration, and pollen size were all similar for the two flower types. In contrast, male flowers had reduced masses of disfunctional female structures: ovaries of males were ⅓ as massive, and styles 1/7; as massive, as those of hermaphrodites. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that male flowers (which occur where fruit set is unlikely) increase male fitness through pollen donation, while saving resources that would otherwise be invested in hermaphrodite flowers that abscise.     

Changes in Florets’ Vertical Direction within Inflorescence Affects Pollinator Behavior,and Fitness in <i>Trifolium repens</i>

Ecological interactions between flowers and pollinators greatly affect the reproductive success. To facilitate these interactions, many flowers are known to display their attractive qualities, such as scent emission, flower rewards and floral vertical direction, in a rhythmic fashion. However, less is known about how plants regulate the relationship between these flower traits to adapt to pollinator visiting behavior and increase reproduction success. Here we investigated the adaptive significance of the flower bending from erect to downward in Trifolium repens. We observed the flowering dynamic characteristics (changes of vertical direction of florets, flowering number, pollen grain numbers, pollen viability and stigma receptivity over time after blossom) and the factors affecting the rate of flower bending in T. repens. Then we altered the vertical direction of florets in inflorescence of different types (upright and downward), and compared the pollinator behaviors and female reproductive success. Our results showed that florets opened sequentially in inflorescence, and then bend downwards slowly after flowering. The bending speed of florets was mainly influenced by pollination, and bending angle increased with the prolongation of flowering time, while the pollen germination rate, stigma receptivity and nectar secretion has a rhythm of “low-high-low” during the whole period with the time going. The visiting frequency of all the four species of pollinators on upward flowers was significantly higher than that of downward flowers, and they especially prefer to visit flowers with a bending angle of 30°–60°, when the flowers was exactly of the highest flower rewards (nectar secretion and number of pollen grains), stigma receptivity and pollen germination rate. The seed set ratio and fruit set ratio of upward flowers were significantly higher than downward flowers, but significantly lower than unmanipulated flowers. Our results indicated that the T. repens could increase female and male fitness by accurate pollination. The most suitable flower angle saves pollinators’ visiting energy and enables them to obtain the highest nectar rewards. This coordination between plants and pollinators maximizes the interests of them, which is a crucial factor in initiating specialized plant-pollinator relationships.     

The effect of wild radish floral morphology on pollination efficiency by four taxa of pollinators

The effects of floral morphology on rates of pollen removal and deposition by different pollinators in generalist plant species are not well known. We studied pollination dynamics in wild radish, Raphanus raphanistrum, a plant visited by four groups of pollinators: honey bees, small native bees, butterflies, and syrphyd flies. The effects of anther position and other factors on pollen removal during single visits by all four pollinator taxa were measured. Flowers with high anther exsertion (i.e., anthers placed higher above the opening of the corolla tube) tended to have the highest numbers of pollen grains removed, but this effect was strongest for honey bees and butterflies. For all pollinator taxa, pollen removal increased with the number of pollen grains available on a flower and whowed a positive, decelerating relationship with the duration of the visit. The effects of stigma position and other factors on pollen deposition during single visits by honey bees and butterflies were also studied. The nectar-feeding butterflies had a higher pollination efficiency (percentage of pollen grains removed from anthers that were subsequently deposited on a stigma) than the nectar- and pollen-feeding honey bees. Flowers with intermediate stigma exsertion had the highest numbers of pollen grains deposited on their stigmas by butterflies, but stigma exsertion had no effect on deposition by honey bees. For both butterflies and honey bees, pollen deposition on the recipient flower increased with the amount of pollen removed from the donor flower, and there was a positive, decelerating relationship between deposition and time spent at the flower; these results are analogous to those for pollen removal. The effects of anther and stigma exsertion on pollen removal and denosition did not fit predictions based on patterns of floral correlations, but results for morphology, pollen availability, time spent per visit, and pollinator efficiency are in broad agreement with previous studies, suggesting the possible emergence of some general rules of pollen transfer.     

Dioecy inHonkenya peploides var.major (Caryophyllaceae)

Sexual difference and pollination system inHonkenya peploides var.major were investigated. The present analyses indicate that sex expression of this plant is functionally dioecious, rather than androdioecious, as described previously. Its flowers are largely pollinated by small bees, hover-flies, flies, and ants. Female flowers were morphologically characterized by conspicuously longer styles and smaller petals, and had no pollen grains, while male flowers had shorter styles, larger petals, and longer filaments, and produced viable pollen grains. Although the male flowers possess many ovules in an ovary, they set fruits at a very low frequency in natural conditions and did not produce fruits by pollination experiments. We suggest that the dioecy of this species has been derived from hermaphrodite through gynodioecy, and not directly from hermaphrodite.     

3种雌雄异熟樟科植物开花动态的比较研究

为了解樟科植物雌雄异熟的繁育系统特点,对3种樟科植物阴香(Cinnamomum burmannii)、紫楠(Phoebe sheareri)和浙江楠(Phoebe chekiangensis)雌雄异熟花的开花动态进行了比较研究.结果表明,3种植物雌性功能期的开始时间、雌性功能期和雄性功能期的时间分配有差异.3种植物的主...     

Functional androdioecy in the rare endemic tree Tapiscia sinensis

Tapiscia sinensis, a rare endemic woody plant with both male and hermaphrodite individuals, is distributed in southern China. Whether T. sinensis is functionally androdioecious is unknown. In this study, we compare the male fitness between male and hermaphrodite individuals and perform pollination experiments in different habitats, identify the ability of actual siring of pollen from hermaphrodites and males under natural pollination, and discuss the evolution and maintenance of androdioecy in T. sinensis. Research suggests that flowers and fruits grow synchronously on hermaphrodite plants of T. sinensis from April to June. The males of T. sinensis had more than twice the genetic contribution of hermaphrodites through their male function and the fruit set from male pollination and cross‐pollination was the highest in all of the treatments, whereas that from self‐pollination was the lowest. Additionally, paternity analysis showed that the hermaphroditic pollen could result in siring success under natural pollination. The results showed that T. sinensis is a functionally androdioecious tree, that male individuals might evolve from a hermaphroditic ancestor and that the synchronous growth of flowers and fruit in hermaphrodites might facilitate the evolution and maintenance of androdioecy in T. sinensis.     

Pollen transfer efficiency and its effect on inflorescence size in deceptive pollination strategies

Pollination systems differ in pollen transfer efficiency, a variable that may influence the evolution of flower number. Here we apply a comparative approach to examine the link between pollen transfer efficiency and the evolution of inflorescence size in food and sexually deceptive orchids. We examined pollination performance in nine food‐deceptive, and eight sexually deceptive orchids by recording pollen removal and deposition in the field. We calculated correlations between reproductive success and flower number (as a proxy for resources allocated during reproductive process), and directional selection differentials were estimated on flower number for four species. Results indicate that sexually deceptive species experience decreased pollen loss compared to food‐deceptive species. Despite producing fewer flowers, sexually deceptive species attained levels of overall pollination success (through male and female function) similar to food‐deceptive species. Furthermore, a positive correlation between flower number and pollination success was observed in food‐deceptive species, but this correlation was not detected in sexually deceptive species. Directional selection differentials for flower number were significantly higher in food compared to sexually deceptive species. We suggest that pollination systems with more efficient pollen transfer and no correlation between pollination success and number of flowers produced, such as sexual deception, may allow the production of inflorescences with fewer flowers that permit the plant to allocate fewer resources to floral displays and, at the same time, limit transpiration. This strategy can be particularly important for ecological success in Mediterranean water‐deprived habitats, and might explain the high frequency of sexually deceptive species in these specialised ecosystems.     

梨不同品种花粉生活力测定及授粉特性研究

以19个梨品种为试材,用离体培养法测定在不同贮藏温度下花粉生活力,并调查6个杂交组合和15个梨品种自交的结实特性。结果表明,在培养基中加入硼酸和赤霉素可提高花粉生活力;通过镜检发现大慈梨、八月红、黄金梨3个品种花粉败育;在不同的贮藏条件下,温度越低花粉发芽率下降越缓慢,因此在低温条件下适合花粉长久贮藏;在贮藏过程中,均存在"短期被迫休眠现象",且随温度的降低被迫休眠恢复时间向后延伸。6个杂交组合的花朵坐果率和花序坐果率平均值为82.54%和94.82%,与自然授粉没有明显差异,因此金二十世纪可以作为鸭梨、雪花梨的授粉树,雪花梨、鸭梨、红安久、红茄梨可以作为黄金梨的授粉树;15个梨品种自交结实率较低,而大慈梨、八月红、黄金梨、秦丰、秀玉、新星、雪花梨、丰水8个品种不结实,在生产上均需配置授粉树才能达到产量需求。     

Status of self-pollen in bee pollination efficiency of white clover (Trifolium repens L.)

Flowers of white clover (Trifolium repens L.) are hermaphrodite and self-incompatible; their cross-pollination depends entirely on insect visitors, mainly bees (Apoidea). Because self-pollination of white clover occurs before flower anthesis, we determined whether selfing affected the pollination efficiency of a honeybee visit. We compared pollen deposition in emasculated and intact flowers following (1) a single honeybee visit, (2) open-pollination for a day and (3) enclosure in a cloth bag to prevent insect visits. In emasculated flowers, open-pollination resulted in more pollen deposited than after one visit (+30%) which is consistent with flowers being visited more than once by pollinators during the course of a day. On intact flowers, saturation of the stigma was achieved after the first visit of a honeybee (near 280 grains) because of self-pollination. Additional visits did not increase pollen deposits, but they improved pollen efficiency in terms of numbers of pollen tubes reaching the ovules. In such a context of easily saturated stigmas, self-pollen does not inhibit cross-pollen activity, but represents a constraint for pollination which demands multiple bee visits to each flower to achieve maximum fertilization. Received: 20 May 1997 / Accepted: 25 October 1997     

Effect of pollination time,the hour of daytime,pollen storage temperature and duration on pollen viability,germinability, and fruit set of date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) cv "Deglet Nour"

Success artificial pollination with viable pollen is crucial process in the production chain of date palms. This study evaluated the impact of pollen storage temperature and duration, pollination time following spathe cracking, and the hour of daytime on pollen viability, germinability, fruit set and yield of 'Deglet Nour' date palm cultivar. In in vitro tests, fresh pollen showed the maximum viability (96.3%) and germination (85%) but it decreased thereafter upon the storage temperature (28, 4 and ?30 °C) and duration (3, 6, 9 and 12 months). In this respect, pollen stored at ?30 °C retained highest viability and germinability followed by those stored at 4 and then at 28 °C. In filed experiments, fruit set was 85, 75, 65, and 45% with pollination using fresh pollen, or pollen stored at ?30, 4 and 28 °C, respectively. Fruit set was 95%, 75%, and less than 50%, for pollination performed on the same day of spathe cracking, 6 and 12 days later, respectively. The highest fruit set percentage and yield/bunch were obtained with pollination performed between 12.0 pm and 15.0 pm in contrast to 8.0–11.0 am or 16.0–17.0.