Preliminary Pollen Grain Characterization of Several Apple and Plum Varieties

Palynology is one of the most used methods to determine the species of different plants. It acts like a fingerprint, being unique to each plant species. The aim of this paper was to observe differences both at morphological level and from the pollen viability point of view of 21 apple (Malus domestica Borkh.) and 19 plum (Prunus domestica L.) varieties, differences that can be correlated with genotype variation in further genotyping research, with the final goal of using these results as a basis for genotype-assisted breeding programs. Pollen grain (PG) morphology was assessed using a Scanning Electron Microscope and pollen viability was analyzed using in vitro germination. This study demonstrated significant differences in both the size of PGs and the percentage of viable pollen through in vitro germination. Among the apple varieties, Belle de Boskoop presented the largest PGs, and among the plum varieties Timpurii de Țurlești. Aura apple variety had the lowest viability percentage.