Reproductive Biology Laboratory Department of Botany, CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar-125004
The genotype PH 1 of pea (Pisum sativum L.) produced more flowers than HFP 4 under control condition. Chromium applied as potassium dichromate decreased flower production, the decrease being more pronounced in PH 1 than HFP 4. Pollen grains of both genotypes possessed more than 95 per cent viability which remained unaffected by chromium treatment. Chromium did not influence in vitro germination potential of pollen but impaired tube growth of PH 1. Tube elongation in HFP 4 was nearly insensitive to test levels of chromium. Supplementation of chromium (upto 0.2 mM) to the germination medium did not affect germination but higher concentration inhibited it completely. Tube length decreased with increasing dosage of chromium and the decline was drastic at 0.05 mM level. PH 1 was more sensitive to Cr6+ than HFP 4.
