In vitro germination and pollen tube growth of maize (Zea mays) pollen. IV. Effects of the fertility restoring Rf1 locus

Abstract

Pollen grains from the near-isogenic inbreds, Oh 43 Rf₁Rf₁, Oh 43 rf₁rf₁, 106 Rf₁Rf₁, and 106 rf₁rf₁ were cultured on an artificial medium containing 15% sucrose and 0.6% bacto-agar supplemented with all possible combinations of two levels (0.00 and 0.03%) of calcium nitrate (Ca) and two levels (0.00 and 0.01%) of boric acid (B). At certain combinations of Ca and B, significant differences between the Rf₁Rf₁ and rf₁rf₁ genotypes were obtained for germination percentage, rupturing percentage, and pollen tube length. However, the effect of the Rf₁ and rf₁ alleles was not consistent in magnitude for both inbreds. Apparently, the Rf₁ and rf₁ alleles can alter certain in vitro germination characteristics but genetic background is also involved.