Detection of Pollen Germination Inhibitors in Brassica oleracea Tissue Extracts

Abstract

Petunia hybrida and Lilium lankongense pollens were germinated on thin layer chromatography (TLC) plates following chromatography of extracts from the self-, cross- and unpollinated stigmas, styles and ovaries and the seeds, leaves and pollen of three inbred Brassica oleracea families. Zones of pollen germination inhibition on the TLC plates showed that inhibitory compounds were present in the tissue extracts. The R_f values and number of these compounds varied with the tissue used, stigma tissue containing the largest amounts and the greatest number of inhibitors. In contrast, differences between the inbred lines tested were slight and quantitative. Pollen from both P. hybrida and L. lankongense gave the same results; that from B. oleracea could not be used because of its poor germination.