ABSTRACT
Pollen-pistil interaction involves a series of dialogues between the male gametophyte and the sporophytic tissues of the stigma and style. Successful completion of pollen-pistil interaction is an essential requirement for fertilization and seed-set. One of the prerequisites for sexual reproduction in any organism is the ability of the gametes to establish recognition so as to facilitate fusion of only the right type of gametes. In flowering plants, pollen grains are deposited on the stigma and pollen tubes carry the male gametes along the tissues of the stigma and style before releasing them near the egg. Generally, the number of pollen grains deposited on the stigma is many times more than the number of ovules available for fertilization. Pollen grains are therefore subjected to competition and selection during pollen-pistil interaction. Pollen viability and stigma receptivity are critical for effective initiation of pollen-pistil interaction.
