Study on pollen viability of diploid Allium caeruleum

In order to provide scientific basis for the conservation of the plant resources, the pollen longevity of diploid Allium caeruleum from Yamalike mountains, Urumqi, Xinjiang was studied. The results indicated that MTT staining and in vitro germination methods were suitable for the pollen viability detection of diploid A. caeruleum, while benzidine α-naphthol staining, TTC staining, carmine acetate dyeing, I2-KI staining, pollen staining and red ink staining methods were not suitable. The optimal medium for in vitro germination method was sucrose 100 g·L-1+boric acid 80 mg·L-1. The pollen longevity of different blossoming phenophases was about 60 hours. The pollen had the high viability at the beginning of anthers shedding and had maximum viability at 4 h after anthers shedding. The pollen viability and germination rate remained two peaks. There was a very significant positive correlation (P<0.01) between the pollen viability and pollen germination rate at the same blossoming phenophase. The pollens of diploid A. caeruleum from Yamalike mountains are fertile with short longevity .