Analysis of Phalaenopsis Bud Length during Meiosis to Predict Pollen Fertility

Abstract

Phalaenopsis orchids are a very important commercial crop in tropical countries. Nonetheless hybrids feature variations in pollen fertility due to widespread chromosomal rearrangements in meiotic chromosomes. Usually each meiotic stage in pollen can be traced on the basis of the length of the flower bud at that stage. Therefore, it was hypothesized that possibly flower bud growth rates could also be affected by defects in chromosome segregation. Then, comparisons of bud length could help in identifying varieties or lines with defects during meiosis. In this study, a possible analyzed relationship between the number of tetrads and changes in bud length was analyzed by using a parametric response model. Results suggest that there is a strong relationship between both variables and that it is possible to estimate tetrad formation based on bud length. It was concluded that bud length at the tetrad stage could be used as an indicator of fertility.