ABSTRACT
The histochemical analysis of pollen grains through the use of stains makes it possible to determine their pollen viability. The purpose of this study was to compare the efficiency of 2% acetic orcein and Alexander’s stain modified, in estimating the pollen viability of twenty strawberry guava accessions (Psidium cattleianum Sabine) – a valued fruit tree which is used for medicinal purposes. Pre-anthesis flower buds were collected and fixed in ethanol:acetic acid (3:1 v/v) for 24 hours at room temperature, subsequently they were stored in 70% ethanol under refrigeration. The anther squash technique was performed for slide preparation. In each accession two slides per stain and 500 pollen grains were analyzed. The pollen viability was estimated according to the percentage of viable pollen grains. Overall, it was observed that pollen grains stained with 2% acetic orcein evinced a high viability, higher than 98,1%, and the accessions did not differ. The pollen viability estimated with Alexander’s stain varied from 43% (accession of Silveira Martins 1) to 97% (accession of Candelária 1), indicating that there is probably genetic variability among the accessions. There was no significant difference among the levels of viability found by means of the two stains in only two accessions. In conclusion, 2% acetic orcein overestimated the pollen viability of P. cattleianum, whereas the Alexander’s stain is in turn more accurate due to its two stains (green malachite and fuchsine). Thus, it is indicated Alexander’s stain for analysis estimation of pollen viability of strawberry guava genotypes involved in a genetic improvement program.
Keywords
strawberry guava; acetic orcein; Alexander’s stain; pollen viability
