Effect of Cold Treatment on the in vitro Germination and Day-to-day Variability of Maize (Zea mays L.) Pollen

Pollen from three varieties of maize, S2 x Golden Midget (HH),Early Sunglow, Luther Hill x Hayes White (LH x HW) was collectedduring a 3 month period and a portion of each day's sample wascultured immediately on a medium containing 15 per cent sucrose,300 parts/10⁶ calcium nitrate, 0.7 per cent bactoagar, pH 7.The remainder was stored at 6 °C for 24 h, after which itwas cultured on the same test medium. Storage resulted in alarge increase in germination percentage in all three varieties,and in a decrease in a day-to-day variability in HH. Increasein germination percentage after storage was inversely proportionalto the germination percentage yielded without storage. Tubelength and bursting were also influenced by storage. Zea mays, maize, corn, pollen, germination