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Title: PECAN POLLEN RETAINS VIABILITY FOLLOWING LONG-TERM STORAGE

Author
item SPARKS, DARRELL - HORT SCI/UGA, ATHENS
item Yates, Ida

Submitted to: American Society for Horticultural Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/10/2002
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Maintaining viable pecan pollen for many years would be important for preservation of genetic diversity and/or for hybridizations in breeding programs between cultivars of early female flower receptivity with cultivars of late pollen maturity. Previous studies documented pecan pollen stored for three years was viable and the purpose of the current study was to determine if pecan pollen could be stored over a decade. Freshly collected pecan pollen and pollen stored 1, 10, 11, 12, and 13 years in liquid nitrogen was examined for germ tube development, as a marker of viability. Researchers at the Russell Research Center and the University of Georgia demonstrated that pecan pollen stored in liquid nitrogen for all the years examined was as viable as fresh pollen. Microscopic structure of stored pollen grains and the germ tube was normal. Thus, liquid nitrogen storage of pecan pollen is a means of haploid preservation of pecan and a tool for breeding purposes.

Technical Abstract: In vitro germination of freshly collected pollen and pollen stored 1, 10, 11, 12, and 13 years in liquid nitrogen was examined for 'Desirable' pecan [Carya illinoensis (Wangenh.) C. Koch]. Viability of pollen stored in liquid nitrogen for 1, 10, 11, 12, or 13 years was not diminished in comparison to that of fresh pollen. Morphology of stored pollen grains and the germ tube was normal. Thus, liquid nitrogen offers a means of haploid preservation of pecan.