The effects of temperature on pollination and pollen tube growth in muskmelon (Cucumis melo L.)

doi:10.1016/0304-4238(88)90051-9

Scientia Horticulturae

Volume 36, Issues 3–4, August 1988, Pages 173-181

https://doi.org/10.1016/0304-4238(88)90051-9 Get rights and content

Abstract

Pollen germination and pollen tube growth in open and hand-pollinated flowers of muskmelon (Cucumis melo var. inodorus Naud.) cultivar ‘Piel de Sapo’ have been compared. No differences were observed except that pollen tubes in open-pollinated flowers grew faster during the first 12 h.

The influence of different temperatures (10, 20, 30 and 40°C) on in vitro pollen germination and pollen tube growth in muskmelon excised flowers was also studied. Both germination and pollen tube growth were better at 30°C that at any other temperature. Although at higher temperatures (40°C) pollen tubes grew faster into the ovary, pollen germination was irregular.

Results of in vitro pollen germination cannot be used to predict pollen germination or pollen tube behaviour in muskmelon.

References (20)

L.H. Aung
Temperature regulations of growth and development of tomato during ontogeny
C. Dumas et al.
Callose and determination of pistil viability and incompatibility
Theor. Appl. Genet.
(1983)
G.L. Fuller et al.
Pollination and the timing of fruit-set in cucumbers
HortScience
(1975)
W.L. George et al.
Parthenocarpy in tomato
Hortic. Rev.
(1984)
H.P. Herrero et al.
High temperature stress and pollen viability of maize
Crop Sci.
(1980)
D.A. Johansen
Plant Microtechniques
H.F. Linskens et al.
Uber eine spezifische Anfärbung der Pollenschläuche im Griffel und die Zahl der Kallosepfropfen nach Selbstung und Fremdung
Naturwissenschaften
(1957)
L.K. Mann
Honey bee activity in relation to pollination and fruit set in the cantaloupe (C. melo L.)
Am. J. Bot.
(1953)
L.K. Mann et al.
Fertilization, seed development, and fruit growth as related to fruit set in the cantaloupe (C. melo L.)
Am. J. Bot.
(1950)
A.N. Matlob et al.
The effect of high temperature on pollen tube growth of snake-melon and cucumber
J. Am. Soc. Hortic. Sci.
(1973)

There are more references available in the full text version of this article.

Cited by (24)

Quantification of cucurbitacin E in different varieties of melon (Cucumis melo L.) fruit through validated RP-HPLC method
2024, Natural Product Research
The different varieties of melons (Cucumis melo L.) have been used in various traditional systems of medicine for decades to treat different ailments, including inflammation, cancer, cardiovascular, diabetes, edema, etc. The present study was designed for the quantification of cucurbitacin E in five different varieties of melon fruit through a validated RP-HPLC method. A solvent system is being optimized with a 70:30 (v/v) ratio of acetonitrile: water (1% glacial acetic acid) at a 1 mL/min flow rate and scanning spectrum (λ_max) of 230 nm. A calibration curve for standard cucurbitacin E was generated and found to be linear (1–100 µg/mL). The variation of cucurbitacin E content among five different varieties of melon fruits is 0.0129% w/w– 0.231% w/w. This precise and reproducible method may be beneficial in addressing the quality-related aspects of medicinal food plants of Cucurbitaceae and its derived products or formulations.
Seed priming with salicylic acid enhances growth, physiological traits, fruit yield, and quality parameters of cantaloupe under water-deficit stress
2022, South African Journal of Botany
Citation Excerpt :
Our present results are consistent with the findings of Alam et al. (2021a) who reported a drastic reduction in fruit yield parameters, such as fruit length, fruit diameter, and fruit weight, of cantaloupe under water-deficit conditions. Poor yield in cantaloupe due to soil moisture deficit has been also observed by Maestro and Alvarez (1988), which has been reported to be a cumulative consequence of poor vegetative growth and inadequate development of reproductive, physiological, and biochemical traits induced by water-deficit condition (Fabeiro et al., 2002; Long et al., 2006; Dogan et al., 2008; Cabello et al., 2009; Alam et al., 2021a). Seed priming with SA was beneficial across soil moisture regimes and 300 ppm SA priming dose had an overall better result compared with other doses.
Cantaloupe is a nutritive and popular commercial fruit crop. Soil moisture deficit could seriously jeopardize the yield and quality of cantaloupe. Salicylic acid (SA) has a proven role in sustainably mitigating environmental stresses in many plants applied through various methods. A factorial experiment consisting of six SA seed priming doses (non-primed control, 100, 200, 300, 400, and 500 ppm) and three soil moisture regimes (50%, 75%, and 100% field capacity [FC]) was conducted to evaluate the performance of cantaloupe in terms of growth, physiological traits, fruit yield, and quality parameters. The results revealed that severe moisture-deficit condition of 50% FC drastically reduced fruit yield (64%), water productivity (48%), total soluble solids (22%), and membrane stability index (43%), while electrolyte leakage was increased by 260% at the same soil moisture regime compared with 100% FC without any SA application. Plants grown from SA primed seeds exhibited significantly better performance in terms of seed germination traits, growth, physiological, and fruit yield parameters than non-primed plants across soil moister regimes. The performance of cantaloupe in terms of germination rate, root and shoot dry matter, fruit yield, water productivity, total soluble solids content, and membrane stability index was better at 300 ppm SA priming dose, which was statistically similar with 400 and 500 ppm SA doses in most cases. A consistent trend of better performance at 300 ppm SA dose, especially at severe soil moisture-deficit of 50% FC, was observed (48%, 59%, 54%, and 153% higher fruit yield, water productivity, membrane stability index, and net photosynthetic rate, respectively, compared with the non-primed control at the same soil moisture regime). There was almost no effect of increasing SA priming dose above 300 ppm; therefore, this could be regarded as an optimum dose for maximizing productivity and economic returns when cantaloupe is grown under soil moisture-deficit conditions.
Effect of seed priming with potassium nitrate on growth, fruit yield, quality and water productivity of cantaloupe under water-deficit stress
2021, Scientia Horticulturae
Citation Excerpt :
These results could be attributed to an overall reduction in physiological and biochemical activities induced by water-deficit stress, which is also supported by the findings of Long et al. (2006), Dogan et al. (2008), Cabello et al. (2009) and Alam et al. (2020) in cantaloupe. Maestro and Alvarez (1988) also reported an inferior quality of fruit setting in cantaloupe due to very hot weather or water-deficit stress. In well-watered conditions, cantaloupe is highly productive (Sharma et al., 2014), but under water-deficit conditions, fruit yield (Fabeiro et al., 2002; Cabello et al., 2009) and fruit quality (Lester et al., 1994; Long et al., 2006) of cantaloupe are adversely affected.
Drought stress poses a serious challenge to sustainable production of agricultural crops necessitating the adoption of proper technique to minimize the harmful effect of this abiotic stress in crop production. Cantaloupe is susceptible to water-deficit stress and seed priming with potassium nitrate (KNO₃) could be a potential alternative to mitigate the adverse effect of water-deficit stress and sustain crop productivity. Laboratory and polyhouse experiments were conducted to evaluate the effect of seed priming with KNO₃ in alleviating water-deficit stress on cantaloupe measured in terms of growth, fruit yield, quality and irrigation water productivity. In the laboratory experiment, seeds were grown on petri dishes after primed with 25, 50 and 100 mM KNO₃ along with a non-primed control and hydropriming. Non-primed seeds had lower germination rate, germination energy and germination rate index, while higher germination time than priming doses of 25, 50 and 100 mM KNO₃. In the polyhouse experiment, cantaloupe was grown in pots subjected to five priming treatments (non-primed control, hydropriming and osmopriming with 25, 50 and 100 mM KNO₃) under three soil moisture regimes (50%, 75% and 100% field capacity [FC]). The results revealed a drastic reduction in fruit yield and irrigation water productivity (68% and 32%, respectively) at 50% FC compared with 100% FC. Plants grown from seeds primed with KNO₃ had an overall better response than the non-primed control and hydroprimed plants. Priming dose of 100 mM KNO₃ resulted in 45%, 35% and 48% higher fruit yield than the non-primed control plants at 100%, 75% and 50% FC, respectively. A similar trend was also observed in fruit quality parameters and irrigation water productivity. There was no difference in fruit yield and irrigation water productivity of plants raised from seed priming doses of 50 and 100 mM KNO₃ at moisture-deficit conditions of 75% and 50% FC, while seed priming dose of 100 mM exhibited better results than all other priming doses when soil moisture was sufficient (100% FC). Priming seeds with optimum dose of KNO₃ corresponding to the available soil moisture level might be a promising approach to maintain productivity of cantaloupe; however, seed priming with KNO₃ might not produce marketable fruits under severe soil moisture deficit condition.
Response of in vitro pollen germination and pollen tube growth of almond (Prunus dulcis Mill.) to temperature, polyamines and polyamine synthesis inhibitor
2011, Biochemical Systematics and Ecology
Citation Excerpt :
In our work, however 10 °C was more inhibiting without the polyamines, but 35 °C was generally inhibitory even with the polyamines. Maestro and Alvarez (1988) reported that in Cucumis melo L., high temperature caused irregular and non-homogeneous pollen germination. They also indicated that pollen failed to germinate in vivo at high temperatures.
Prunus dulcis L. ‘Mamaei’ is grown widely in souhtwest of Iran. It blooms in early spring when temperatures are still low. Based on our knowledge there are no reports in the literature regarding pollen behavior of this cultivar under specified condition. Thus, the possible factors for low germination percentage in this cultivar have not been reported. The effect of three different temperatures (10, 25, or 35 °C), polyamines (putrescine, spermidine, and spermine) and polyamine synthesis inhibitor, methylglyoxals-bis (guanyl-hydrazone) (MGBG) on in vitro pollen germination and pollen tube growth were investigated in P. dulcis L. ‘Mamaei’. All temperatures and chemicals significantly affected both pollen germination percentage and pollen tube growth. In general, different polyamines stimulated the pollen germination percentage compared to the control at all temperatures, but increasing the temperature, particularly to 35 °C, had demonstrated inhibitory effects on pollen germination. At a concentration of 0.05 mM putrescine and spermidine and 0.005 and 0.025 mM spermine revealed longer pollen tube growth than that of the control at 10 °C, while higher concentrations tended to inhibit pollen tube growth. At 25 °C, most of the treatments had an inhibitory effect on pollen tube growth except for 0.25 mM putrescine and 0.005 mM spermine, which slightly stimulated pollen tube growth. Pollen germination and pollen tube growth were inhibited by MGBG at all temperatures and in all concentrations.
Screening Capsicum species of different origins for high temperature tolerance by in vitro pollen germination and pollen tube length
2007, Scientia Horticulturae
Successful fruit set depends on several reproductive processes including pollen germination and tube growth processes. An experiment was conducted to determine the effects of temperature on pollen germination characteristics and to identify species/genotypic differences in Capsicum using the cumulative temperature response index (CTRI) concept. Pollen was collected from plants of seven genotypes from five Capsicum species, adapted to various parts of the world and grown outdoors in large pots. The pollen was subjected to in vitro temperatures ranging from 15 to 50 °C at 5 °C intervals. Pollen germination and tube lengths were recorded for all species after 24 h of incubation at the respective treatments. Species/genotypes differed significantly for in vitro pollen germination percentage and pollen tube length with mean values of 78% and 734 μm, respectively. The mean cardinal temperatures (T_min, T_opt, and T_max) averaged over genotypes, were 15.2, 30.7, and 41.8 °C for pollen germination and 12.2, 31.2, and 40.4 °C for pollen tube growth. The CTRI of each species/genotype calculated as the sum of eight relative individual stress response values, such as maximum pollen germination, maximum pollen tube length; T_min, T_opt, and T_max temperatures of pollen germination, and pollen tube lengths, identified species tolerance to high temperatures. Capsicum annum cv. Mex Serrano from Mexico was identified as tolerant, C. chacoense cv. 1312 and C. spp. cv. Cobanero from Argentina and Guatemala, respectively as intermediate and C. frutescens cv. Early Spring Giant from China, C. annum cv. Long Green from South Korea, C. spp. cv. NM89C130 and C. pubescens cv. 90002 from Guatemala as sensitive to high temperatures. The tolerant species/genotypes can be used in breeding programs to develop new genotypes that can withstand high temperature conditions both in the present climate and particularly in a future warmer climate.
The effect of temperature, polyamines and polyamine synthesis inhibitor on in vitro pollen germination and pollen tube growth of Prunus mume
2004, Scientia Horticulturae
The effect of temperature (10, 25 or 35 °C), polyamines (Put, Spd, Spm) and polyamine (PA) synthesis inhibitor (MGBG) on in vitro pollen germination and pollen tube growth was investigated in Prunus mume cv. ‘Zaohua’. When pollen was incubated in a liquid medium for 24 h in darkness, distinct differences were observed in pollen germination and pollen tube growth among the temperatures. Similarly, differences were found among PAs, PA concentrations, and between the PAs and PA synthesis inhibitor MGBG. At 10 °C, Spd significantly stimulated pollen germination over the control except for Spd 0.5–2.5 mmol/l. At 25 °C, Put stimulated all pollen germination, but for the other two PAs, only Spd 0.01–0.05 mmol/l and Spm 0.025 mmol/l had stimulating effects on pollen germination. While at 35 °C, except for Put 0.25 mmol/l, Spd 0.025–0.25 mmol/l and Spm 0.025 mmol/l, the inhibitory of PAs on pollen germination was becoming stronger with the increasing concentrations. There were some differences between the percentage of pollen germination and pollen tube growth at different temperatures and different concentrations of PAs. When the concentration of Put and Spd was at 0.05 mmol/l, Spm at 0.005 and 0.025 mmol/l pollen tube was longer than that of the control at 10 °C, while when the concentrations became higher they would inhibit pollen tube growth. At 25 °C, except for Put 0.25 mmol/l, Spm 0.005 mmol/l slightly stimulated pollen tube growth, most of the treatments had inhibitory effect on pollen tube growth but for Spd from 0.01 to 0.25 mmol/l, pollen tube growth was stimulated and then dropped rapidly at 0.5 and 2.5 mmol/l. At higher temperature (35 °C) except for Put at 0.25 mmol/l all the PAs tested had inhibitory effect on pollen tube growth. Pollen germination and pollen tube growth were inhibited by MGBG at all temperatures and in all concentrations.

View all citing articles on Scopus

View full text

Article preview

Scientia Horticulturae

Abstract

References (20)

Temperature regulations of growth and development of tomato during ontogeny

Callose and determination of pistil viability and incompatibility

Theor. Appl. Genet.

Pollination and the timing of fruit-set in cucumbers

HortScience

Parthenocarpy in tomato

Hortic. Rev.

High temperature stress and pollen viability of maize

Crop Sci.

Plant Microtechniques

Uber eine spezifische Anfärbung der Pollenschläuche im Griffel und die Zahl der Kallosepfropfen nach Selbstung und Fremdung

Naturwissenschaften

Honey bee activity in relation to pollination and fruit set in the cantaloupe (C. melo L.)

Am. J. Bot.

Fertilization, seed development, and fruit growth as related to fruit set in the cantaloupe (C. melo L.)

Am. J. Bot.

The effect of high temperature on pollen tube growth of snake-melon and cucumber

J. Am. Soc. Hortic. Sci.

Cited by (24)

Quantification of cucurbitacin E in different varieties of melon (Cucumis melo L.) fruit through validated RP-HPLC method

Seed priming with salicylic acid enhances growth, physiological traits, fruit yield, and quality parameters of cantaloupe under water-deficit stress

Effect of seed priming with potassium nitrate on growth, fruit yield, quality and water productivity of cantaloupe under water-deficit stress

Response of in vitro pollen germination and pollen tube growth of almond (Prunus dulcis Mill.) to temperature, polyamines and polyamine synthesis inhibitor

Screening Capsicum species of different origins for high temperature tolerance by in vitro pollen germination and pollen tube length

The effect of temperature, polyamines and polyamine synthesis inhibitor on in vitro pollen germination and pollen tube growth of Prunus mume