M. Rashed Zaman

Abstract

Pollen germination, viability and tube growth in fourteen species of cucurbit were examined. All the male flowers had three anthers each. The highest number of pollen grain (917.00 ± 52.69) per anther was recorded in pumpkin (Cucurbita maxima Duch ex Poir.) whereas the lowest (479.00 ± 13.14) per anther was recorded in snake gourd (Trichosanthes cucumerina L.). Viable pollen was highest (98.51%) in bitter gourd (Momordica charantia L.) and lowest (86.87%) in pointed gourd (Trichosanthes dioica Roxb.). Pollen grains of all species were starchy in nature. The highest percentage of pollen germination (97.19%) was recorded as in bottle gourd (Lagenaria siceraria (Mol) Standl.) and lowest (77.98%) in pointed gourd. Rate of increasing lengths of the tubes was very fast between first two hours and became very slow in last six hours. After 12 hrs. of germination the longest pollen tube (1649.20m ± 15.05) was found in pumpkin and the shortest (766.08m ± 19.03) was found in pointed gourd.

Key words: Pollen germination; viability, tube-growth, cucurbit.