• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.942-947
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• 2010

In the present study, pollen tube growth and fruit set in Asian pear ($Pyrus$ $pyrifolia$) were examined upon the mechanical damage on the stigma and style following the artificial pollination. When the upper middle part of style was cut off at 48 h after the artificial pollination, pollen tube grew to the middle of the style and the subsequent pollen tube elongation and fruit set normally occurred. When the style was cut off before the pollen tube reached the middle of the style, however, no pollen tube elongation and fruit set occurred. With the pollen tube elongation through the style, callose plugs at the basal part of the pollen tube were formed to the direction of the elongation at regular intervals. When the upper part of pollen tube attached pollen grain was cut off, however, callose plugs were formed defectively in the pollen tube, and the pollen tube opened and lost their turgor pressure. These facts might be the reason for the ceased or delayed pollen tube elongation and ultimately the failure of the fertilization.