EXPERIMENT: 1

Aim: To prepare a temporary mount to observe pollen germination.

Materials required: Fresh mature flower, glass slide, glass rod, dropper, 10 mg Boric acid, 30 mg
magnesium Sulphate, 20 mg Potassium Nitrate, 10 g sucrose, distilled water, compound microscope.

Procedure:

1. Pollen germination medium is prepared by dissolving 10 gm sucrose, 10mg boric acid, 30mg
magnesium sulphate,20 mg potassium nitrate in 100 ml distilled water.
2. Using a glass rod, the solution is stirred to mix it well.
3. Using a dropper, two drops of the nutrient solution is put on a glass slide.
4. A few pollen grains are dusted on the solution put on slide.
5. After 5 min the slide is observed under a compound microscope.

Observation: The pollen grain is uni-nucleate in the beginning. At the time of liberation, it
becomes 2 celled, with a small generative cell and a vegetative cell.
In the nutrient medium, the pollen grain germinates. The tube cell enlarges and comes out of
the pollen grain through one of the germ pores to form a pollen tube. The generative cell also
passes into it. It soon divides into two male gametes.

Original image under microcope( spherical pollen grains with long pollen tubes emerging)
Diagram to be drawn in the practical notebook: