Abstract
The present investigation deals with pollen biology (in vitro and in vivo pollen germination) of four endemic balsams from the Western Ghats, namely, Impatiens diversifolia, I. fruticosa, I. trichocarpa and I. verticillata. Twenty percent sucrose medium supplemented with 150 ppm boric acid was found to be the best for in vitro pollen germination. In vivo pollen germination in all the selected species were studied in different time intervals after anthesis. The results indicated that in I. diversifolia and I. trichocarpa, maximum stigma receptivity of 80% and 70% were observed for up to 18 hours with pollen germination of 66% and 62% respectively. The other two species I. verticillata and I. fruticosa have extended their stigma receptivity but having recorded a low of 36% and 23% pollen germination respectively.