Articles
VIABILITY AND GERMINABILITY OF FRESH AND STORED POLLEN OF ACTINIDIA DELICIOSA
Pollen of the cvs ‘Matua’ and ‘Tomuri’ was picked at anthesis and its viability and germinability were tested at harvesting and after 1–3–6–12 months of preservation using different methods: at +4°C in desiccator, at -18°C in freezer and at – 196°C in liquid nitrogen.
Pollen was germinated in hanging drops in a solution of 0.30 M sucrose, and on solid medium with 0.75 % Difco Bacto-Agar, 0.30 M sucrose and 0.16 mM H3BO3 for 24 h at +25°C. The germinated pollen was stained with acetocarmine and the germination percentage was determined.
Pollen viability was evaluated with the fluorochromatic reaction.
The styles of manually pollinated female flowers were observed under a microscope in fluorescent light.
For the first three months of storage the three methods of preservation did not affect pollen viability and germinability while after six month the temperature of +4°C the pollen was not satisfactorily viable.
After one year of storage about 70 % of pollen preserved at -18°C and at – 196°C germinated.