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The behaviour of pollen starch in a Geranium and its bud sport

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Summary

The pollen of the Pelargonium, Salmon Fringed, and its Zonal bud sport can be classified into starch-filled, partly starchy, and starch-free.

In both cases the percentage of starch-filled reaches a maximum of about 93 per cent. in buds of 8 to 12 mm. length, then drops rapidly to about 15 per cent. in buds 15 mm. long. From this point on to anthesis the change is slower, reaching an equilibrium at about 20 mm.

The pollen of open flowers of Salmon Fringed has almost exactly twice (6.4-6.6 per cent.) the percentage of starch-filled pollen shown by its bud sport (3.3-3.8 per cent.). This is an expression of a difference in rate of starch digestion.

Temperatures of 25 and 30° C. hasten starch digestion, while 15° retards it. Behaviour at both extremes is erratic.

Analysis of pollen carbohydrate conditions for genetical purposes can perhaps be facilitated by the foregoing physiological considerations.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Nebraska, USA

    Paul B. Sears & Eunice Metcalf

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  1. Paul B. Sears
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  2. Eunice Metcalf
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Sears, P.B., Metcalf, E. The behaviour of pollen starch in a Geranium and its bud sport. Journ. of Gen. 17, 33–42 (1926). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02983304

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02983304

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