Materials Required

Real Lab Procedure

• Prepare the pollen germination medium by dissolving 10 grams sucrose, 10 milligrams boric acid, 30 milligrams magnesium sulphate and 20 milligrams potassium nitrate in 100ml of distilled water.
• Using a glass rod, stir the solution to mix it well.
• Using a dropper, take some nutrient solution and put two drops on a clean glass slide.
• Take a mature flower and dust a few pollen grains from its stamen on to the drop on the slide.
• After 5 minutes, place the glass slide on the stage of the compound microscope.
• Observe the slide through the microscope regularly for about half an hour.

Simulator Procedure (as performed through the Online Labs)

• Click and drag the dropper towards the beaker containing germination medium to take the medium.
• Drag the dropper towards the glass slide to pour a few drops germination medium into the glass slide.
• Drag the flower towards the glass slide to dust the pollen grains.
• Drag and place the glass slide onto the stage of the compound microscope.
• Click on the eyepiece of the compound microscope to view the pollen germination.
• You can redo the experiment by clicking on the ‘Reset’ button.

Observations

The pollen grain is uninucleate (has one nucleus) in the beginning. At the time of liberation, it becomes 2 celled, with a small generative cell and a vegetative cell.

In the nutrient medium, the pollen grain germinates. The tube cell enlarges and comes out of the pollen grain through one of the germ pores to form a pollen tube. The tube nucleus descends to the tip of the pollen tube. The generative cell also passes into it. It soon divides into two male gametes.