STORAGE AND VIABILITY TESTING OF PROTEA POLLEN

The influence of storage temperature and humidity on pollen viability was studied in four Protea species. Pollen was stored at a range of te mperatures and relative humidities for up to 1 year and tested for abi lity to germinate in vitro. Pollen of P. repens (L.) L. 'Sneyd', P. ex imia (Salisb. ex Knight) Fourcade 'Fiery Duchess' and P. magnifica Lin k. clone T84 07 05 stored at -196 degrees C and -14 to -18 degrees C r etained a germination percentage as high as that of fresh pollen regar dless of humidity. Humidity control became increasingly important at s torage temperatures above 0 degrees C. The study showed that long-term storage of Protea pollen is not feasible at temperatures above 0 degr ees C. The relationship between germinability and fluorochromasia (FCR ) was studied during storage of 'Sneyd' pollen. The correlations betwe en FCR and germinability were found to be low and nonsignificant. Fift een-month-old cryopreserved 'Sneyd' pollen functioned in fertilization and seed set as effectively as fresh pollen.