Question

why is cotton blue used as a stain in pollen tube growth?

Answer 1

Blue staining produces better contrasts. Hence, this makes the tubes more clearly noticeable. This stains the chitin present in the walls of the fungal cells. Hence cotton blue is used as a stain in pollen tube growth. The most widely used staining agent is lactophenol cotton blue mounts.

Answer 2

This is an interesting question.

Cotton blue used as a stain in pollen tube growth because cotton blue increases catalyze and hydrolyze activity in vegetative nuclei which catalyze and hydrolyze pollen tube to fastly grow. The cotton blue stain is only used because it shows the tube clear. As pollen tube is essential for growth of male reproductive part.

Hope this will prove helpful for you.