Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Acid rain and pollen germination in corn.

F S Wertheim1, L E Craker

  • 1Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, USA.

Environmental Pollution (Barking, Essex : 1987)
|January 1, 1987
PubMed
Summary

Acid rain harms corn pollen germination on silks, with acidity being the key factor, not sulfate levels. This effect persists even after rinsing, indicating lasting damage to the silk surface.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Abscission: ethylene and light control.

Plant physiology·1987
Same author

Prostaglandin inhibitors and the development of mung bean seedlings.

Steroids·1985
Same author

Abscission: characterization of light control.

Plant physiology·1984
Same author

Abscission: quantification of light control.

Plant physiology·1983
Same author

Protein in vegetative and reproductive tissues of several neotropical species.

Journal of agricultural and food chemistry·1979
Same author

Community monitoring of air pollution with plants.

Atmospheric environment·1974

Area of Science:

  • Agricultural Science
  • Environmental Science
  • Botany

Background:

  • Acid rain poses a threat to agricultural productivity and plant reproduction.
  • Corn (Zea mays L.) relies on effective pollen germination on silks for successful fertilization.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the impact of simulated acid rain on corn pollen germination.
  • To determine the specific properties of acid rain (acidity vs. sulfate concentration) affecting germination.
  • To understand the mechanism of inhibition on the silk surface.

Main Methods:

  • Corn silks were treated with simulated acid rain of varying acidity levels.
  • Pollen germination rates on treated silks were measured.
  • Silks were rinsed with neutral pH rain after acid treatment to assess residual effects.

Main Results:

  • Simulated acid rain created an inhospitable environment for corn pollen germination.
  • Reduced germination was directly correlated with increased rain acidity (lower pH).
  • Sulfate concentration did not significantly affect pollen germination.

Conclusions:

  • Acid rain, particularly its acidity, negatively impacts corn pollen germination on silks.
  • The inhibition is likely due to physical or chemical modifications of the silk surface.
  • Even brief exposure to highly acidic rain (<1.5 minutes at pH 2.6) significantly inhibits germination.

Related Experiment Videos