Reproductive Performance of Pea (Pisum Sativum L.) Under Saline Conditions
Abstract
Salinization of plants inhibited pollen production and its germination in vitro but did not affect elongation of pollen tube. Pollen of Pisum, in general, are dimorphic, i.e., with lighter and darker cytoplasmic contents. Salinization though did not affect ovule production but the number of pollen deposited on the stigmatic surface during pollination and formation of pods and healthy seeds, decreased substantially with the increase in salinity level. At 120 meq. I−1 salinity, pod formation was completely suppressed. Salinization adversely affected reproductive success rates of both pollen and ovule.
