Effects of fluoride on pollen germination, pollen tube growth, and fruit development in tomato and cucumber

Journal Article · Tue Oct 31 23:00:00 EST 1972 · Phytopathology; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1094/Phyto-62-1247· OSTI ID:5607130

Sulzbach, C W; Pack, M R

Tomato and cucumber pollen germination in vitro was significantly inhibited at 10.5 and 2.6 mM NaF, respectively, or higher, in media containing 1.25 mM Ca. Germination was not inhibited provided the Ca was at least chemically equivalent to the F in the media. Long-term, continuous HF fumigations of tomato plants at 7.9 and 13.0 ..mu..g F/m/sup 3/ reduced pollen germination in vitro when the plants were grown with low Ca (1 mM) nutrient solution. No reduction was found at 13.0 ..mu..g F/m/sup 3/ when tomato plants were grown with 4 mM Ca. Regardless of Ca nutrition, HF fumigations of cucumber plants at 10.2 ..mu..g F/m/sup 3/ or less did not inhibit pollen germination. Fluorescent staining of pistils from manually pollinated tomato flowers showed reductions in the number of pollen grains retained on the stigma, pollen germination, and pollen tubes reaching ovules when the maternal parent plants were grown in HF treatments averaging as low as 4.2 ..mu..g F/m/sup 3/. Similar effects were found when pollen parents grown with 1 mM Ca were subjected to 7.9 ..mu..g F/m/sup 3/, but not when pollen parents grown with 5 mM Ca were subjected to 4.4 ..mu..g F/m/sup 3/. Early tomato fruit and seed development were inhibited by treatments similar to those that caused the pollen responses. 11 references, 1 figure, 5 tables.

• Research Organization: Washington State Univ., Pullman, WA
• OSTI ID: 5607130
• Journal Information: Phytopathology; (United States), Journal Name: Phytopathology; (United States) Vol. 61; ISSN PHYTA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
AIR POLLUTION
ALKALI METAL COMPOUNDS
ALKALINE EARTH METALS
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
CALCIUM
CUCUMBERS
ELEMENTS
FLUORIDES
FLUORINE COMPOUNDS
FOOD
GAMETES
GERM CELLS
GERMINATION
HALIDES
HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
HYDROFLUORIC ACID
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INHIBITION
INORGANIC ACIDS
METABOLISM
METALS
NUTRITION
PLANTS
POLLEN
POLLUTION
REPRODUCTION
RESPONSE MODIFYING FACTORS
SODIUM COMPOUNDS
SODIUM FLUORIDES
TOMATOES
VEGETABLES