Optimising storage and in vitro germination of Eucalyptus pollen
Tasmien N. Horsley A B C , Steven D. Johnson A and Terrence K. Stanger BA School of Biological and Conservation Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Scottsville, South Africa.
B Shaw Research Centre, Sappi Forests, Howick, South Africa.
C Corresponding author. Email: tasmien.horsley@sappi.com
Australian Journal of Botany 55(1) 83-89 https://doi.org/10.1071/BT05194
Submitted: 12 November 2005 Accepted: 31 July 2006 Published: 18 January 2007
Abstract
The best sucrose solution for maximum in vitro germination of Eucalyptus pollen was investigated in order to evaluate pollen germination rate as an indicator of pollen viability. In vitro germination of both freshly collected and 1-year-old pollen (stored at 4°C) of Eucalyptus grandis, E. smithii, E. nitens, E. dunnii and E. macarthurii was carried out in 0, 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50% (w/v) sucrose solutions, either with (0.15 mg L–1) or without boric acid. Similar trends were obtained for both fresh and 1-year-old pollen, with all species responding most favourably to 30% (w/v) sucrose and 0.15 mg L–1 boric acid. When an optimal in vitro germination medium had been established, the viabilities (%germination) of E. smithii, E. nitens and E. grandis pollen, stored at room (25°C), fridge (4°C), freezer (–10°C) and liquid nitrogen (–196°C) temperatures, were compared. For all tested species, germination declined as storage temperature increased, and by 8 months, the highest survival was obtained with cryostored pollen.
Acknowledgements
I thank Diana Madondo for her help with pollen collection and processing and Nicky Jones for the use of her tissue-culture laboratory for pollen storage and viability testing. Thanks go to Cathy Ford and Lorna Fisher for their assistance throughout the study.
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