Developmental Biology

Studies of pollen germination and post-germination development are not only essential for understanding plant reproduction but also are an excellent model system for tip-based growth. Here we describe easy, reproducible methods for germination and growth of pollen from the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana in artificial conditions. Our growth system can be used both for pollen placed directly on this artificial substrate as well as for the so-called ‘semi in vivo’ method. This is where a pistil is cut shortly after hand-pollination and the pollen tubes grow through the plant tissue and emerge from the cut end onto the surface of the artificial medium.