Effects of different wavelengths of LED light on pollen germination and direction of pollen tube elongation in Cyrtanthus mackenii.

The effects of different light wavelengths on pollen germination and determination of the direction of pollen tube elongation of Cyrtanthus mackenii was examined in vitro using light-emitting diodes (LED) with five peak wavelengths: 405 nm (violet), 465 nm (blue), 630 nm (orange), 660 nm (red), and 735 nm (far-red). Pollen grains were cultured on a medium solidified with agar, and maintained at 21°C in an incubator under 3-4 h of continuous lighting or darkness. Neither the pollen germinated under LED lighting and dark conditions nor the rate of pollen germination differed among light conditions, including darkness. However, pollen tubes elongated less in the direction toward light under LED, and elongated with no directional trend in darkness. Moreover, pollen tubes did not elongate toward far-red LEDs. These results suggest that light exerts effects on the factors determining the direction of pollen tube elongation, but not on those controlling pollen germination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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