An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for in vitro pollen growth based on binding of a monoclonal antibody to the pollen tube surface.

An indirect method of quantifying in vitro pollen growth has been developed. This is based on the finding that a monoclonal antibody (PCBC3), which has a primary specificity for alpha-l-arabinofuranosyl residues, binds to the surface of in vitro grown pollen tubes of the ornamental tobacco, Nicotiana alata. This binding was quantified using an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The method was used to determine the effects of 2-deoxy-d-glucose and nonanoic acid on in vitro pollen growth.