Pollen-Pistil Interaction and Self Incompatibility Test in Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius Linn.)
Pollen-Pistil Interaction and Self Incompatibility Test in Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius Linn.)
Aloka Kumari and A. K. Pandey
Plant Systematics Research Centre
University Department of Botany
T.M.Bhagalpur University;Bhagalpur-812007, India
ABSTRACT
cross pollination increases the number of seed setting.
If anther dehiscence occurs before style elongates, the
stigma pushes through mass of pollen, becomes coated
with pollen and gets self fertilized. If anther dehiscence
occurs after style elongates, stigma passes through the
anther tube without becoming pollen coated, then cross
pollination is needed. Absence of pollinators results in
self-pollination. Anthesis of disc florets takes place
between 06:30 h to 08:00 h. The number of pollen
grains produced in safflower per anther/per flower is
comparatively low (236+74 grains/anther or 906+372
grains/flower). In safflower highest seed set (%) was
obtained with stigma pollinated 24h after anthesis.
Stigma remains receptive up to 32-56 hours after
anthesis. There is about 85.99% seed setting in the
open pollinated heads followed by 38.15% (in muslin
cloth) and 35.54% (in butter paper) of the flowers set
seeds under bagged condition. Polyacrylamide gel
electrophoresis shows that, 3 Protein bands (RP 0.21,
0.30 and 0.42) are present in both pollen and stigma.
The percentage similarity is just 50%; indicating 50%
chances for compatibility.