Evaluating Pollen Viability and Tube Growth in Rice (Oryza sativa)

Pollen maturity, viability, and pollen tube growth are essential indicators of male fertility in rice (Oryza sativa). This chapter presents standardized protocols to evaluate these traits using a range of staining methods, including iodine-potassium iodide (I₂-KI), DAPI, calcofluor white, auramine O, LM19/LM20 antibodies, and FM4-64. Pollen germination is assessed through in vitro assays on sucrose-based germination medium optimized for rice, while in vivo pollen tube growth is visualized with aniline blue staining. Given the rapid and short-lived nature of rice pollen under laboratory conditions, practical tips are included to enhance reproducibility. Together, these methods provide a reliable toolkit for the functional analysis of rice pollen in developmental, genetic, and breeding research.