Characterization of pollen development and female reproductive structure of Phalaenopsis amabilis after pollination

Abstract. Udkhiawati I, Solicahatun, Pitoyo A. 2020. Characterization of pollen development and female reproductive structure of Phalaenopsis amabilis after pollination. Cell Biol Dev 4: 17-25. Orchid is a superior commodity in ornamental plants. Enthusiasts of orchids cause the demand for varieties diversity. Orchids often get obstacles in pollination, so it is necessary to characterize the development of post-pollination pollen and female gametophyte structure. Characterization was conducted through in vitro and in vivo methods. This research aims to determine the development of pollen and female gametophyte structure of Phalaenopsis amabilis (L.) Blume after pollination and detect the potential of in vitro pollen germination. This research was explorative. It involves methods were in vitro pollen germination and preparation of anatomy of pollen and ovule of the 1st DAP (Day After Pollination), 2nd DAP, 3rd DAP, 4th DAP, 7th DAP, 20th DAP, 30th DAP, 50th DAP, and 60th DAP. The observations included in vitro culture of pollen cultured in Brewbaker and Kwack (mBK) media using a phase-contrast microscope and observation of anatomical development of post-pollination pollen tube and ovule using a fluorescence microscope. The observed data consisted of in vivo female gametophytes and pollen development in vitro and in vivo methods. The data were analyzed descriptively. From observation of post-pollination pollen, it was known that the pollen tube started to germinate on the 2nd -3rd DAP. At the 7th DAP, all pollens had germinated and formed the pollen tube, and then the pollen tubes continued to grow closer to the ovule. Primordial ovule began to form on the 7th DAP, then continued to develop a seed on 60th DAP, and then an embryo pouch formed. The in vitro pollen germination did not show any change in pollen after 30th DAC (Day After Cultivating).