THE ESTIMATION OF POLLEN VIABILITY IN RICE

Methods for testing pollen viability in rice were evaluated by compari ng staining with aniline blue in lactophenol, two tetrazolium salts an d fluorescein diacetate with germination in an in vitro culture medium . Staining with thiazolyl blue (MTT) was nicely correlated with germin ation. Under non-saline conditions, rice pollen was only viable for a short period of time, with an approximately 50% loss of viability with in 20 min of shedding. When plants were salinized at either panicle in itiation or the booting stage, pollen viability was reduced.