Comparative Study of in Vitro and in Vivo Inflorescence of Feathered Amaranth

This study aimed to compare the inflorescence, florets and pollen formed by the plantlets of feathered amaranth [Celosia argentea var. plumosa (Burvenich) Voss] developed and grown under in vitro conditions with those formed by the plants grown under in vivo conditions. Plantlets were first derived from nodal explants of feathered amaranth cultured on Murashige and Skoog (MS) semi-solid medium under in vitro aseptic conditions, and then the plantlets produced in vitro inflorescences, florets and pollen. In parallel, inflorescences, florets and pollen of plants raised from feathered amaranth seeds under in vivo conditions were obtained for the comparative purpose. The results revealed that florets from both sources were largely similar except the size. The in vitro florets were mainly smaller than those of the in vivo ones. Also in vivo pollen exhibited a higher germination percentage and average pollen tube length than in vitro pollen when cultured on a pollen germination medium.