Electromagnetic flux produced linear increase ‘in vitro’ germination and reduced the incubation period of ‘mounts’ of quiescent papaya (Carica papaya L. cv. ‘Washington’) pollen. The linear trend for germination began at 18 oersted and continued progressively upto 708 oersted (when the percent increase over control was calculated). At 18 oersteads the per cent increase over control was 6.1 and at 708 oersteads it was 81.8. The best operating strengths were 72 (46.2**), 90 (79.4**) and 108 (81.8**) oersteds. Also, the incubation period of pollen mounts for both germination and tube, growth was halved, with germination being more responsive to the treatment than tube growth. Moreover, tube growth did not follow a linear pattern. In tube growth significant increase over control was produced at 90 oersteds (41.9**) and at 108 oersteds (45.2**). At present, possible errors in handling techniques of ‘in vitro’ viability test's result in valuable and viable germplasm being discarded. This method of magnetic stimulation could be used to break the quiescence of pollen in order to successfully evaluate inherent genetic potential of pollen.
