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Title: Cryopreservation of pecan pollen for long-term storage

Author
item Volk, Gayle
item Walters, Christina
item WADDELL, JOHN - Retired ARS Employee
item Grauke, Larry

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/13/2013
Publication Date: 8/13/2013
Citation: Volk, G.M., Walters, C.T., Waddell, J., Grauke, L.J. 2013. Cryopreservation of pecan pollen for long-term storage. Meeting Abstract. Second International Symposium on Plant Cryopreservation, p.106.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Pecan [Carya illinoinensis (Wangenh.) K. Koch] breeding and conservation programs benefit from having reliable pollen preservation protocols. Air-dried pollen harvested in 2007 and 2008 from the USDA-ARS Pecan Genetics and Breeding Program in Somerville, TX was sent to the USDA-ARS National Center for Genetic Resources Preservation in Fort Collins, CO for processing and storage. Moisture was adjusted by placing aliquots of pollen over saturated salt solutions of P2O5 (2.03 mg H2O/mg DW), LiCl (3.04 mg H2O/mg DW), KAcetate (4.92 mg H2O/mg DW), MgCl2 (5.56 mg H2O/mg DW), Ca(NO3)2 (6.88 mg H2O/mg DW, NaCl (11.16 mg H2O/mg DW), and KCl (13.61 mg H2O/mg DW). Equilibrated samples were stored at -190, -80, -18, 4, 25 or 35oC for up to three years. In vitro germination assays were performed using Marquard medium to determine viability after the various storage treatments. Viabilities were as high as 50% when pollen was equilibrated over Ca(NO3)2 salts and stored at LN conditions. Longevity was dependent on water content and temperature during storage. These stored pollen produced progeny when hand pollinations were performed on trees in the Somerville pecan orchards.