POLLEN LONGEVITY AND STIGMA PRE‐EMPTION IN CLARKIA

Abstract

The ability of pollen to effect seed set decreases with age when stored at room temperature or on the plant, but not when stored at 5 C. Seed set declines rapidly with pollen stored 10 days or more at room temperature. Seed set declines rapidly with pollen stored 4 days or more on the plant. The degree of pollen germination on the stigma and the number of pollen tubes in the style correlate positively with seed set. Pollen germination on the stigma and pollen tube growth in the style are strongly correlated with seed set for pollen stored at room temperature, but not, or only weakly, correlated for pollen stored at 5 C. In the latter case, seed sets are lower than expected, indicating a possible viability reduction associated with a post‐pollination function. Inviable pollen grains temporarily interfere with normal pollen germination on the stigma. Essentially no seeds are produced when in viable pollen, immediately followed by viable pollen, is placed on a fresh stigma. However 27 to 65 seeds are produced when in viable pollen, followed in 1 to 6 days by viable pollen, is placed on fresh stigmas. New stigma surface is exposed at the center as expanding stigma surfaces carry the interfering inviable pollen toward the edge of the stigma.