Date: Mon, 12 Feb 1996 10:16:04 -0800
From: mloik@wiley.csusb.edu (Michael Loik)
To: cacti_etc@opus.hpl.hp.com
Subject: Re: pollen viability.
Message-ID: <199602121815.KAA06464@wiley.csusb.edu>

Hi all,

Another method is to stain with "TTC" (2,3,5-triphenyl tetrazolium
chloride).  It is a clear solution that stains viable pollen red (it also
works for determining the viability of seeds). It works by turning red in
the presence of an enzyme involved in respiration.  A good reference for
pollen techniques is:

Kearns, C.A. and D.W. Inouye. 1993. Techniques for Pollination Biologists.
University Press of Colorado, Niwot, CO.

Dr. Michael Loik
Department of Biology
California State University
San Bernardino, CA 92407
mloik@wiley.csusb.edu

>Dear John it seems to me that there is no need for NaCl to store pollen in the
>fridge as due to the low temp it is already a rather dry air.
>There is a simple way to test the fertility of the pollen, but I dont now or
>it also makes a difference for dead pollen. The method is simple
>Just take a drop of Cotton blue lactophenol Put in the pollen and look in a
>microscoop any will do as 50x enlargement is enough. fertile pollen colours
>dark blue infertile pollen stays colourless. I have used this method with
>many succulent and nonsucculent species. I t shows what can be crossed and
>what not. Moreove it indicates that a plant is a hybrid as usulaaly pollen
>fertility is down
>Best wishes
>Ben Zonneveld Leiden university