ISHS Acta Horticulturae 380: Symposium on Tropical Root Crops in a Developping Economy
GERMINATION OF CASSAVA (MANIHOT ESCULENTA CRANTZ) POLLEN |
| Authors: | R.E. Mbahe, M.E. Aken'Ova, S.K. Hahn |
| Abstract:
Cassava pollen grain viability was investigated through germination in vitro and in vivo. Some in vitro media produced germination percentages ranging from 0.4 to 5.7%, with an average of 1.2%. The best germination of 5.7% occurred in a medium made of 150 ppm boric acid, 450 ppm calcium phosphate, 25% sucrose and 0.6% bacto-agar. Pollen from the IITA improved clones TMS 4(2)1425, TMS 42025, TMS 58308, TMS 30555, and a wild species, Manihot glaziovii, were also tested in vivo. Thus, with hand crossing up to 34.5% fruit set, with an average of 2.6 seeds/fruit, was observed. Comparison of in vitro pollen germination values with seed set from artificial crosses using the same pollen sample indicated that in vitro germination above 1% using agar medium may be regarded as a measure of pollen viability, which is adequate for a cassava crossing program. | |
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