Abstract
The authors determined morphometric data of different floral features and in vitro pollen germination of six cultivars representing four genera and two subfamilies of Bromeliaceae. Important floral characteristics for plant breeding are pollen germination and style length. Pollen viability was for all cultivars more than 40% and high enough for successful pollination. Stylar length varied much for the different cultivars. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to examine important flower characteristics. The pollen of Aechmea fasciata were biporate, and those of Tillandsia cyanea, Vriesea ☓ vimimalisrex ☓ carinata and V. splendens were monosulcate. Pollen grains of A. chantinii and Guzmania lingulata were inaperturate. The exine layers of all taxa were reticulate in structure with the exception of A. chantinii, which was smooth. Four stigma types were detected: convolute-blade, conduplicate-spiral, simple-erect, and coralliform. Petal appendages of Vriesea were tongue-like and absent in G. lingulata and T. cyanea. Aechmea fasciata and A. chantinii had complex petal appendages. Ovules of all cultivars possessed characteristic chalazal appendages.
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