Abstract
Petunia hybrida and Cucurbita pepo pollen was exposed to 30 and 75% relative humidity (RH). Water content, viability and carbohydrate content (glucose, fructose, sucrose and starch) were measured at fixed intervals over 6 h. Water content of C. pepo pollen decreased drastically at both RHs, while P. hybrida pollen dehydrated slightly at RH 30% and hydrated at RH 75%. The pollen of the two species also showed very different sensitivity to dehydration. P. hybrida pollen was resistant to desiccation, with viability remaining around 80% throughout the experiment, whereas C. pepo was very sensitive to desiccation, showing an abrupt decrease in viability when its water content reached about 13% (fresh weight basis) at both RHs. Carbohydrate content was also different in the two species. Sucrose content increased soon after dehydration of P. hybrida pollen at RH 30%, whereas it remained almost constant in C. pepo pollen at the same RH. The results are discussed in the framework of basic pollen physiology and of plant reproductive strategy.
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This research was funded by PAR (Piano di Ateneo per la Ricerca, University of Siena).
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Nepi, M., Cresti, L., Guarnieri, M. et al. Effect of relative humidity on water content, viability and carbohydrate profile of Petunia hybrida and Cucurbita pepo pollen. Plant Syst Evol 284, 57–64 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00606-009-0237-x
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00606-009-0237-x