Effects of acidity on tree Pollen germination and tube growth. Final report
Most of the northeastern hardwood forests in North America are exposed repeatedly to acidic rainfall at pH values below 5.0. Pollen germination, tube growth and fertilization, important parts of the reproductive process, are sensitive to changes in their chemical environment. Accordingly, the authors investigated the effects of acidity on pollen germination and tube elongation of four northeastern tree species: flowering dogwood, black birch, yellow birch, and sugar maple. Pollen was collected and germinated in a growth medium acidified to pH values ranging from 5.0 to 2.6. Pollen was found to be sensitive to acidification of the germination medium to below pH 4.2. These results suggest that acidic rain that now occurs in eastern North America may influence reproductive processes that are necessary for seed set and regeneration in northern hardwood forests.
- Research Organization:
- Cornell Univ., Ithaca, NY (USA). Dept. of Natural Resources; Boyce Thompson Inst. for Plant Research, Ithaca, NY (USA)
- OSTI ID:
- 5024075
- Report Number(s):
- PB-85-216976/XAB
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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