ORGANIC FERTILIZER AND NATURAL ZEOLITE EFFECTS ON MORPHOMETRIC TRAITS OF BRASSICA NAPUS L. POLLEN GRAINS

Abstract

Morphological characteristics of Brassica napus pollen (polar axis, equatorial diameter, shape index, pattern of perforation of exines, and perimeter of perforation zones) were investigated by using scanning electron microscopy JEOL JSM-6390. The B. napus seeds were grown under various agroecological conditions, i.e., mineral fertilizer (NPK 60:60:60 t ha-1) separately and together with zeolite, chicken droppings (10 t ha-1) separately and together with zeolite (5 t ha-1), and control (without fertilizers) from 2018 to 2020 at the Bunin Yelets State University, Yelets, Russia. It was found that pollen grains of B. napus had an oblong-ellipsoid shape. In the polar view, the pollen grains were circular with straight sides, though in the equatorial view, elliptical. For the polar axis of the pollen grains in fertilizer application treatments, the minimum values ranged from 24.59 to 27.76 µm, whereas the maximum readings were 40.13 to 42.12 µm compared with control (21.56 µm, 41.52 µm). The coefficient of variation for fertilizer applications ranged from 8.86% to 14.10% compared with control (14.85%) for the polar axis. For the equatorial axis of the pollen grains, the minimum values varied from 11.61 to 15.63 µm, whereas the range for the maximum values was 19.74 to 23.96 µm compared with the control (13.63 µm, 21.88 µm). For the equatorial axis among the fertilizer applications, the coefficient of variation varied from 8.47% to 12.01% compared with the control (18.35%). For the perimeter of the exine perforation of the pollen grains, the minimum values ranged from 1.68 to 1.95 µm, whereas the maximum values varied from 4.34 to 7.12 µm compared with the control (1.34 µm, 5.68 µm). The coefficient of variation varied from 24.48% to 33.19% compared with the control (34.78%) for the perimeter of exine perforation. The shape index of the pollen grains of the B. napus varied from 1.96 to 2.07 µm (correct unit of measure?) compared with the control (2.03 µm). Overall, with the use of organic fertilizers and zeolite, the morphometric parameters of pollen grains were significantly enhanced.