169-172Sucrose or boric
acid used by earlier workers for in vitro germination of oil palm pollen
has not been satisfactory as germination is inconsistent, pollen tubes are short
and show several abnormalities. Incorporation of polyethylene glycol (PEG
10,000) resulted in consistent and good germination, with long and normal
pollen tubes. The best response was obtained on a medium containing sucrose
(2.5%)+boric acid (100 ppm)+PEG (10%) in which pollen tubes were over 10 times
longer than those in the medium without PEG. Use of PEG as a component of pollen
germination medium for other species is suggested