2019 ASHS Annual Conference

Pollen morphology characterization is important in taxonomy, conservation and plant breeding, and pollen viability studies can support breeding programs in Camellia species. This study investigated pollen fertility and pollen morphology in eight cultivars of Camellia oleifera, one species C. handelii and C. gigantocarpa. The male fertility was examined by in vitro pollen germination, and the morphology of these pollen grains was observed by scanning electron microscope. The results showed that the pollen viability varied from 47.18% to 83.45%. The pollen morphology of three Camellia species were ellipsoidal or nearly spherical, and the polar view was trilobate-circular. Three germinal furrows annularly distributed in equal space and presented in all tested Camellia pollen grains, which indicated that the pollens belonged to N3P4C3 model. The ten genotypes of pollen grains were largely divided into three groups (C. oleifera, C. handelii and C .gigantocarpa); were mainly the length of polar axis, and the equatorial diameter in morphological characteristics of principal component. The morphological characteristics of pollen grains and pollen fertility could provide important information for cultivar identification and hybrid breeding of these Camellia species in the future.