Onset and duration of stigma receptivity in Kunzea pomifera (Myrtaceae)
T. Page A C , G. M. Moore A , J. Will A and G. M. Halloran BA Burnley College, The University of Melbourne, Richmond, Vic. 3121, Australia.
B Institute of Land and Food Resources, The University of Melbourne, Vic. 3010, Australia.
C Corresponding author. Present address: Agroforestry and Novel Crops Unit, School of Tropical Biology,
James Cook University, Cairns, Qld 4870, Australia. Email: tony.page@jcu.edu.au
Australian Journal of Botany 54(6) 559-563 https://doi.org/10.1071/BT05122
Submitted: 11 July 2005 Accepted: 14 February 2006 Published: 15 September 2006
Abstract
The onset and duration of stigma receptivity in K. pomifera was evaluated by observing stigma peroxidase activity, pollen-tube growth and seed set, following controlled pollination of flowers of different ages. Peroxidase activity was negligible from 1 day before to 4 days after anthesis, increasing to a peak of 65% at Day 13. The percentage of pistils bearing germinated pollen and ovaries exhibiting pollen-tube entry increased when pollen was applied to the stigma from the day before anthesis, to a maximum at Days 6 and 7 after anthesis, respectively, followed by a decline by Day 9. Under greenhouse conditions the optimum pollination period, measured as the level of set seed after pollination, ranged from 2 to 11 days after anthesis. The knowledge of this aspect of the species reproductive biology is of considerable value in controlled pollinations for its improvement as a new crop.
Acknowledgments
We are most grateful to A. Campbell, N. Osborne and R. Payne for nursery support; T. Huynh and staff at Microscopy and Microanalysis Laboratory (RMIT University) for assistance with electron microscopy; I. Gordon and P. Ades for statistical support; and A. Rawal, C. Zuidervaart and A. Sosnin for technical assistance. This research was supported by Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation (RIRDC), RWS Nicholas Agricultural Science and Australian Postgraduate Award scholarship to T. Page.
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