EXPERIMENT 1

AIM
To study the pollen germination on a slide in a nutrient medium.

REQUIREMENT

Different types of flowers like Petunia, Catharunthus (sadabahar), Hibiscus, Portulaca (Kunles
(Balsam)grass; slides, coverslip, microscope, water, beaker, weighing machine, filter
filter papDer l ka sag,m
sucrose, potassium nitrate, magnesium sulphate. paper, Impatin
glass rod, borir.

THEORY

Pollen grains are the microspores or male gametophyte which contain male gametes. Fack
has two wall layers- Outer i.e., Exine which is thick, ornamented due to sporopollenin; Innerie. lnle p
thin, made of cellulose. These are 1-2 germ pores from where intine comes out as pollen tai e wh
stimulus from sugary substances secreted by stigma. ing t
Each pollen grain carries a vegetative nucleus and two male nuclei which are carried to the arni.
the pollen tube. htoua

PROCEDURE

1. Prepare a nutrient solution by dissolving 10 g suerose, 10 g boric acid, 50 mg potassium nitraua

50 mg magnesium sulphate in 50 ml water.
2. Dust the pollen from a flower over a slide.
3. Put 2-3 drops of nutrient solution over the pollen grains and mix the contents with a needle.
4. Put the coverslip over it gently and leave it for 10 minutes.
5. Observe it under the microscope to see the pollen germination and pollen tube growth.
6. If no pollen germination is seen, wait for another 10-20 minutes and then observe under the miens
7. Repeat the steps with flowers of other plants and record the time required for pollen germinatin

EXine

o Pollen tube
ntine

Pollen grain
-Non-germinating pollen
Germinating pollen

Fig. Pollen germination as seen under the microscope

Pollen tube

-Exine
-Intine
Male gamel
-Vegetative cell

Vegetatve

-Generative cell
-Germ pore gran

Fig. Germinating pouer

Fig. 2-celled pollen grain

18 agether weh Biology Lab Manual-12

OBSERVATIONS

Pollen grains of ditferent plant spp. show different types of sculpturing on the exine. Rate of pollen germination
and viability
5. also varies for different species

S. Nutrient
Name of No. of
of pollen
No. Total no. Time taken
the flower pollen showing of pollen (b) germination for germination of
germination (a) x100 pollen
solution

should

be

made

RESULT AND DISCUSSION carefully.

The viable pollen grains germinate in proper nutrient medium and show variable length of the pollen tubes
Pollen from different plant spp. take different time for their germination. Even the pollen from dàifferent flowers
have different ornamentation of exine. (This sculpturing of the exine can be used to identify the plant species
by studying the pollen grains.)

Ans.
Q.4.
Q.5.
PRECAUTIONS
1. Dust few pollen grains on the slide to avoid overlapping. What
Ovary
2. Label the slides properly for different flowers.
is
3. There should not be any air bubble under the coverslip.
the
changes
4. Soak extra solution with filter paper. double
fate
to
of
VIVA VOCE fruit
fertilization
ovary
ater
Q.1. What are germ pores?
Ans. Germ pores are the places where exine is either Ans. Fusion of one male gameteafter
with
and
the secnndary
nucleus (formed by tusion of two polar nuclei
very thin or absent.
is called triple fusion. fertilization
How many nuclei are present in the pollen
tnple
2. The 2nd male gamete fuses withfertilization
es nacleus to
tube?
form zygote and it is called syngamy. Syngamy
Ans. There are three nuclei vegetative nucleus
-
one and triple fusion together an known asfusion?
double
and two male gametes. fertilization.
in
3. What stimulates the growth of pollen tube
pistil?
from thee
Ans. The secretion of sugary substance
tube in
stigma stimulates growth of pollen
pistil.

Experiments 19