Pollen morphology and viability of Longquan No. 1 natural triploid of loquat

The diploid and natural triploid of Longquan No.1 loquat (Eriobotrya japonica Lindl.) were used to observe the pollen morphology by scanning electron microscope SEM, meanwhile four methods i.e. FDA staining, Acetate-magenta staining,TTC and pollen germination in medium were involved in testing the pollen viability. The reciprocal pollination experiment was used to observe pollen germination and pollen tube growth of each ploidy by fluorescence microscope. The results showed that:(1) the pollens of diploid loquat belonged to N3P4C5 model, while the pollens of natural triploid loquat had 6 morphology models;(2) the pollen viability detected by FDA staining was significantly different among 15 lines of triploid loquat,and the viability percentage is closer to the pollen germination percentage in medium compared with the percentage detected by other two methods;(3) pollen viability was the main factor that resulted in the change of pollen germination, pollen tube growth and growing speed in the stigma, moreover, the growth of pollen tube in stigma was non-uniform . All of the results will provide a basis for the sexual reproduction research of triploid loquat.