Maize in vitro pollination with single pollen grains

Abstract

Fertilization of maize (inbred A188)_was achieved by placement of individual pollen grains on silks of cob segments cultured in vitro. Fertilization rates were highly variable, ranging from 0% to 75% following single grain pollination and from 10% to 100% following abundant pollination. This variability may indicate cryptic genetic variability within the A188 inbred or environmental variability. Whether the variability was due to heterogeneity of pollen source, ears, or both was not determined. Double fertilization, required to produce normal kernels with both embryo and endosperm, apparently failed in a small proportion of cases (2.6%). Such failure was as prevalent following single grain pollination as it was after abundant pollination.