Discernment of pollen grain fertility and stigma receptivity applying Hasty-Easy techniques of Heliconia L. species under optical microscope

Evaluation of pollen grain fertility and stigma receptivity are an essential pre-requisite for breeding program of Heliconia sp. Acetocarmine staining method adopted for pollen fertility and stigma receptivity by Baker’s procedure, 6% hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) and Macherey-Nagel Peroxtesmo Ko peroxidase test papers on Heliconia psittacorum × spathocircinata ‘Golden torch’, Heliconia psittacorum ‘Choconiana’, Heliconia psittacorum ‘Lady Di’, Heliconia rostrata, Heliconia humilis, Heliconia humilis ‘Dwarf’, Heliconia wagneriana, Heliconia stricta and Heliconia metallica cultivated at the Agricultural Experimental Farm, Baruipur of University of Calcutta were accomplished. Samples consisted of five mature anthers and 30 freshly cut stigmas at different stages of flower development of each species. Utmost pollen fertility scrutinized under Magnüs MLX Plus at 10 and 40× augmentations as exhibited by ‘Choconiana’ (100%), ‘Lady Di’ (94%) and H. metallica (93%) and H. humilis (91.87%) along with sizeable pollens ranged from 581.11 to 392.25 µm while unstained, sterilepollens of ‘Golden torch’ and H. stricta were significantly smaller sized. Prominently stained stigma tips by Baker’s and Peroxtesmo tests were perceived in all taxa. Thus, ‘Golden torch’ and H. stricta as female parents and others as pollen parents can be utilized for hybridization.