Comparative Study on Methods for Testing Pollen Viability of the Six Species from Genus Rhododendron

This experiment was conducted with the pollens grains of Rhododendron ciliatum,R.polylepis,R.taronense,R.simsii,R.ovatum,and R.hybridum.The effects of sucrose,H₃BO₃ and CaCl₂ single factor and orthogonal test L₂₅(5³) on Rhododendron pollen germination were investigated.The I₂-KI,TTC,benzi-dine-H₂O₂,and MTT methods were compared to find the fastest determination method of Rhododendron pollen vitality.The results indicated that sucrose,H₃BO₃,CaCl₂,and their interaction had great effects on the pollen germination of the six Rhododendron species.The optimal germination medium of pollen germination for 150 g/L+H₃BO₃ 0 mg/L+CaCl₂ 50 mg/L,for R.simsii was sucrose 100 g/L+H₃BO₃ 100 mg/L+CaCl₂ 0 mg/L,for R.ovatum was sucrose 50 g/L+H₃BO₃ 200 mg/L+CaCl₂ 0 mg/L and for R.hybridum was sucrose 150 g/L+H₃BO₃ 100 mg/L+CaCl₂ 0 mg/L and sucrose 150 g/L+H₃BO₃ 100 mg/L+CaCl₂ 0 mg/L,respectively.MTT is the optimum and rapid staining method to determine pollen vitality of Rhododendron.