Impact of temperature and air moisture on pollen viability

The environments have a direct impact on formation and functioning of the generative organs in plants. Parameters characterizing viability of pollen grains are closely linked with weather conditions, especially temperature and air moisture. Very often a phase of a beginning of flowering of winter rapeseed (end of March - beginning of April) lasts in unfavourable conditions. In April 2020, we studied influence of the main weather factors (frosts, low moisture) on germination of pollen grains of the varieties Loris, Sarmat and hybrids 40059 х Jesper 16132 and 40008 х INRA of winter rapeseed bred in VNIIMK. Pollen viability was determined by B.A. Trankovsky’s method, accounting amount of germinating pollen grains on the artificial nutrient medium, calculating a percentage of germinating pollen grains to their total quantity. We determined optimal concentration of sucrose solution (20%) in a nutrient medium for germination of pollen of winter rapeseed varieties and hybrids. Due to our results, lowered air temperatures (from -0.5 to -1.9 оС) combined with air moisture from 39 to 86% in a period of beginning of crop flowering negatively influenced on germination of pollen grains. Viability of pollen of the varieties Loris and Sarmat was in average 47 and 37%, respectively. Pollen grains of the hybrids (F1 40059 х Jesper 16-132 and F1 40008 x INRA) had less viability - 38 and 21%, respectively, this certifies higher susceptibility of tissues of the reproductive organs to low temperature and moisture.