Abstract: Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L. ) anthers had lower Put , Spm, Spd contents and higher free proline (Pro) contents at anthesis than those at pollen mother cell formation stage and monokaryotic pollen stage, high temperature (35 ℃/ 20 ℃) could reduce Put , Spm , Spd contents at stage 1 and stage 2, and reduce Pro contents in anthers and pollens at anthesis. During cucumber pollen culturing, Put, Spm, Spd contents reached max in 1 h then descended, Pro contents descended gradually, Put, Spm, Spd contents decreased and Pro contents increased when cucumber pollen germinated under high temperature ( 35 ℃) . In heat sensitive line Xintaimici , the effects of high temperature on physiological processes above were more serious than those in heat tolerant line XC-1 and NY-1 , which indicated polyamine and Pro might play a key role in cucumber anther development and pollen germination. Gabaculine, a inhibitor of ornithine aminotransferase, could inhibit cucumber pollen germination, improve polyamine contents and reduce Pro contents during pollen germination, which indicated there might be a Pro to polyamine biochemistry route during cucumber pollen germination.

Key words: Cucumber, High temperature, Anther, Pollen, Polyamine, Free proline