Abstract

                                Area.equivalent diameter,perimeter and roundness of the pollen grains were tudied in seven diploid wild species and two tetraploid species of the genus Gossypium. The size of the pollen grain is correleated with ploidy level and pollen grains of the etraploid species are larger than diploid species. Significant difference for the above characters were noticed in the pollen grains of the different species belonging to the same loidy level. The germinated pollen grain in artificial medium produced longer pollen tube. it initial period. The relationship between pollen size and breeding value are discussed.

Key words : Palynology, Gossypium, Ploidy level, Breeding value