SIGNIFICANCE OF FREEZE-DRYING IN LONG-TERM STORAGE OF DATE PALM POLLEN

The authors attempt to determine the optimal conditions for maintainin g long term viability of date palm pollen using a special method of fr eeze-drying. They have undertaken a systematic study of the viability over time of a sample of the same pollen stored and conserved under di fferent conditions (freeze-drying, temperature, gaseous atmosphere and storage time). The results are thoroughly analysed by means of differ ent approaches of multiparametric modelisation. These numerical treatm ents permit us to: 1. demonstrate that such a phenomenon submits to th e usual laws and can be modelled 2. propose a general approach for the study of the ageing of pollen with lime and with respect to different conservation and storage conditions.