In vitro pollen germination and viability of a Java × New Guinea Impatiens interspecific hybrid

Pollen germination on 2% agar medium was investigated as a method of screening pollen viability, using ISU 7851-1, a Java × New Guinea Impatiens interspecific hybrid. A chi-square test showed that percentage pollen germination was related to corresponding seed set. However, some pollinations yielded seeds from pollen that tested in vitro as low as 0.5% germination. Other Impatiens genotypes were screened rapidly for pollen viability by microscopically scanning for pollen germination in vitro. ISU 7851-1 pollen diameter sizes ranged from 18 to 81 μm on agar medium, but only pollen grains of 45 μm and larger were capable of in vitro germination.