Although most plants reproduce as both seed parents and pollen parents, knowledge of the factors that control the amount of plant reproduction is, in most cases, limited to understanding of seed production. Because plants generally produce more pollen than seeds, there is an opportunity for extensive variation in ability of plants, acting as pollen donors, to sire seeds. The variation may be produced by differences in pollen grain germination, differences in pollen tube growth, and differences in embryo growth and survival depending on the source of the pollen. Which mechanism actually produces differences in pollen donor success is not known for any plant. This research will examine the mechanisms that produce differences in fertilization success among pollen donors of wild radish, Raphanus sativus. The research will involve experimental crosses using pollen donors of different genotypes followed by measurement of paternal success and examination of the processes that produce those differences. This work will increase basic understanding of the neglected half of plant reproduction, performance of pollen donors. Understanding of the factors that control plant reproduction is essential to selection for continued productivity in crop plants.

Agency
National Science Foundation (NSF)
Institute
Division of Environmental Biology (DEB)
Type
Standard Grant (Standard)
Application #
8818552
Program Officer
Gregory J. McCants
Project Start
Project End
Budget Start
1989-03-01
Budget End
1992-08-31
Support Year
Fiscal Year
1988
Total Cost
$187,088
Indirect Cost
Name
University of New Mexico
Department
Type
DUNS #
City
Albuquerque
State
NM
Country
United States
Zip Code
87131