Partial Inhibition of In Vitro Pollen Germination by Simulated Solar Ultraviolet‐B Radiation

Pollen from four temperature—latitude taxa were treated with UV radiation in a portion of the UV—B (280—320 nm) waveband during in vitro germination. Inhibition of germination was noted in this pollen compared to samples treated identically except for the exclusion of the UV—B portion of the spectrum. Levels similar to maximum solar UV—B found in temperature—latitude areas failed to inhibit pollen germination significantly, while levels similar to maximum solar UV—B found in equatorial alpine locations caused partial inhibition of germination in three of the four taxa examined.