Pollen fertility in manganese-deficient wheat

Abstract

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) subjected to mild deficiency of manganese in sand culture developed smaller anthers with lower manganese concentration and produced fewer, smaller and infertile pollen grains. While pollen fertility was decreased significantly by manganese deficiency, the effect on ovule fertility did not appear to be significant. Deficiency of manganese had a more pronounced effect on grain yield than on vegetative yield of plants.