The determination of pollen quality in chestnut cultivars and genotypes

This study, a total of 11 chestnut cultivar/genotypes, including 9 local (Castanea sativa Mill.) ('N-7-3', 'Erfelek', 'Firdola', 'Gavuraşı', 'Karamehmet', 'Sarıaşlama', 'Serdar', 'Seyrekdiken' and 'Tülü') and two hybrids (Castanea sativa x Castanea crenata) ('Maraval' and 'Marigoule') cultivars which were cultivated under Bursa ecological conditions and distinguished by selection studies in different ecologies were determined for the pollen quality. Viability of pollens was determined by triphenyltetrazoliumchlorid (TTC), agar in petri method were used for pollen germination. Anther and pollen sizes of cultivars and genotypes were measured and the number of pollen grains per anther was determined.It was determined that there were significant differences in pollen viability, germination rates, anther and pollen sizes of chestnut cultivars/genotypes. Cultivar/genotypes the average ratios of viable pollen from 25,22% to 40,86%, semi-viable from 26,22% to 43,73%; non-viable pollen was found to change in the ratio of 24,67% to 37,51%. It was determined that pollen germination rate ranged from 16,93% to 35,35% at 5% sucrose concentration, and from 23,01% to 36,63% at 10% sucrose concentration. The highest amounts of pollen per anther was 'Seyrekdiken' (8000) and the lowest amount was determined in 'Gavuraşı' (5111,11) genotype.