The Influence of Temperature and Relative Humidity on Onion Pollen Germination1

Abstract Pollen of onion ( Allium cepa L.) was stored in incubators at 21, 43 and 60°C with each at 20, 50 and 80% relative humidity. The germination of M611B pollen was higher than P52-371B. At each of the temperature levels, germination of viable pollen decreased as the relative humidity and length of storage time increased. Increasing temperature also caused an increase in nonviable pollen. At 21°C, pollen germination showed a gradual decline with increasing length of storage compared to a more abrupt decline at 43 and 60°C.