ARS | Publication request: In vitro flowering and pollen viability of cucumber

Submitted to: Plant Cell Tissue And Organ Culture
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: October 22, 2011
Publication Date: November 16, 2011
Citation: Havey, M.J., Kielkowska, A.Z. 2011. In vitro flowering and pollen viability of cucumber. Plant Cell Tissue And Organ Culture. 109:73-82.

Interpretive Summary: Flowers were produced on sterile cucumber plants grown under sterile culture conditions. Highest numbers of flowers were observed on plants produced on hormone-free MS medium, as well as with 6 µM of kinetin. Plants cultured on MS medium with 8.9 µM benzyladenine and 1.1 µM naphthaleneacetic acid did not flower. In vitro plants produced fewer, smaller flowers as compared with greenhouse-grown plants. Male and female flowers developed on seed-grown plants were morphologically similar to flowers from greenhouse grown plants. Micropropagated shoots produced male flowers with aberrant morphologies. The highest viability (72.9%) and germination (69.5%) of pollen were observed for plants grown from seed on MS medium supplemented with 6 µM kinetin. Meiosis in anthers of male flowers from in vitro grown plants revealed abnormalities, resulting reduced pollen viability and germination. The fewest meiotic irregularities in pollen mother cells was observed in plants grown on MS media that were hormone-free (12.1%) or with 6 µM kinetin (20.9%). These results will be useful for production of haploid cucumber plants from microspores.

Technical Abstract: Flowers were produced on sterile cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) plants grown in vitro from seed or from micropropagated shoots from stem fragments. Highest numbers of flowers on plants from both sources were produced on hormone-free MS medium as well as with 6 µM of kinetin (MSK). Plants cultured on MS medium supplemented with 8.9 µM benzyladenine (BA) and 1.1 µM naphthaleneacetic acid (MSC) did not flower. In vitro plants produced fewer, smaller flowers compared with greenhouse-grown plants. Male and female flowers developed on the seed-grown plants were morphologically similar to flowers on greenhouse grown plants. Micropropagated shoots produced male flowers with altered morphologies. The highest viability (72.9%) and germination (69.5%) of pollen were observed for plants grown from seed on MS medium supplemented with 6 µM kinetin. Cytological observations of meiosis in anthers of male flowers from in vitro grown plants revealed abnormalities, causing reduced pollen viability and germination. The fewest meiotic irregularities in pollen mother cells was observed in plants grown on MS media that were hormone-free (12.1%) or with 6 µM kinetin (20,9%).