Sensitivity to Low Temperature in Pollen Germination and Fruit-Set inCicer arietinumL.

Abstract

Cicer arietinum L. cv. G 62404 was seen to have a very low fruit-set percentage at low temperatures and as temperatures increased, either in nature or in culture conditions, the fruit-set also increased. This effect of temperature could also be seen in percent pollen germination and pollen tube growth. M 450, a mutant of G 62404, was seen to have a better fruit-set percentage at low temperature and better pollen germination. This may be due to differences in malic acid concentration, which increased pollen germination, and pollen tube growth under in vitro culture conditions.