POLLEN GERMINATION AND CHILLING SENSITIVITY IN TWO TOMATO CULTIVARS OF DIFFERING SENSITIVITY TO COOL NIGHT TEMPERATURE
The effect of low night temperature on pollen tube formation and chilling sensitivity was compared in two tomato cultivars, Ontario 7515, free-setting at low temperature, and Ohio MR13, poor-setting at low temperature. The rate and extent of pollen grain germination in the Ontario 7515 cultivar far exceeded that of pollen grains obtained from the Ohio MR13 cultivar. In addition, the rate of pollen tube growth was greater in the free-setting cultivar than the poor-setting cultivar. No major differences were observed in the chilling sensitivity of the vegetative parts of these two tomato cultivars. It is concluded that the differential ability of these two tomato varieties to set fruit during growth at cool, night temperatures may be a function of differential flower production and a differential rate of pollen grain germination rather than a differential chilling sensitivity of the vegetative plant.