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Production of normal, germinable and viable pollen from in vitro-cultured maize tassels

Theoretical and Applied Genetics volume 77, pages 521–526 (1989)Cite this article

Summary

Immature tassel meristems (1.0–1.5 cm long) of Zea mays L. inbred, Oh43, and single cross hybrid, Se60, cultured on a nutrient liquid medium underwent extensive development through to maturity and produced normal, mature, trinucleate pollen grains. The grains germinated on nutrient agar and on receptive silks and also produced viable kernels. No differences were observed between in vitro-produced pollen and in vivo pollen (pollen from greenhouse-grown plants) in characteristics such as pollen size, in vitro and in situ germination, and pollen tube growth in vitro. The kernels produced with in vitro pollen grew into mature plants (in vitro plants) which were similar to in vivo plants (plants produced with in vivo pollen), with no significant differences for all the morphological characteristics measured, and no phenotypic and cytological abnormalities. Gel electrophoresis of polypeptides revealed no major differences between in vitro and in vivo seedlings. This demonstration of fertilization and production of normal, uniform plants with pollen from cultured tassels has significant potential in basic and applied research studies.

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Author notes

  1. D. R. Pareddy

    Present address: United AgriSeeds, Inc., P.O. Box 4011, 61820, Champaign, IL, USA

Affiliations

  1. Department of Plant Sciences, University of Western Ontario, N6A 5B7, London, Ontario, Canada

    D. R. Pareddy, R. I. Greyson & D. B. Walden

Authors
  1. D. R. Pareddy
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  2. R. I. Greyson
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  3. D. B. Walden
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Additional information

Communicated by P. L. Pfahler

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Pareddy, D.R., Greyson, R.I. & Walden, D.B. Production of normal, germinable and viable pollen from in vitro-cultured maize tassels. Theoret. Appl. Genetics 77, 521–526 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00274273

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00274273

Key words

  • Zea mays
  • Fertilization
  • In vitro pollen
  • In vitro culture
  • Uniformity