In Vitro Germination of Caprifig Pollen Grains Using Stigmatic Exudate of a Common Fig as a Promoter

Abstract

To improve the Pollen germination of caprifig 'VC-180' (Ficus carica L. var. intermedia Shinn ×F. carica L. var. sylvestris Shinn) in vitro, stigmatic exudate from long-styled pistillate flowers of 'Masui Dauphine' (F. carica L. var. hortensis Shinn) was added to a medium.
1. The optimum pollen germination of 'VC-180' occurred when 2 or 3 pistillate flowers of 'Masui Dauphine' were embedded per cm2 of basal medium (1% agar +10% sucrose) for 3 hours under 5° to 15 °C.
2. More than 70% of the pollen grains germinated and grew vigorously during a 7-hour-culture kept at 25° to 30 °C.
3. Pistillate flowers within a syconium (2032 mm diam.) of the second crop of 'Masui Dauphine' figs promoted pollen germination. Likewise, pollen grains from the summer crop of caprifig 'VC-180' germinated regardless of the maturity of the syconium in the presence of the stigmatic exudate.