Pollen competitive ability, which represents the reproductive success
of a pollen grain, is the result of various pre- and post-shedding com
ponents. The genes controlling two of these, pollen germination and tu
be elongation, measured in artificial conditions, were identified and
their chromosomal localization established by RFLP analysis in a popul
ation of recombinant inbred lines. Six regions were detected for polle
n grain germination and seven for tube growth, which explained 45 per
cent and 70 per cent, respectively, of the phenotypical variability of
the traits. The results, interpreted together with those relating to
in vivo germinability and tube growth rate, obtained in a previous exp
eriment, suggested the existence of a system of timing of different se
ts of genes controlling the gametophytic developmental stages.