CRYOPRESERVATION OF POLLEN FROM 2 ROSE CULTIVARS

An investigation was undertaken on the storage characteristics of poll en collected from two English rose cultivars. A rapid decline in viabi lity was observed in pollen stored at +4-degrees-C and -20-degrees-C, whereas the viability of pollen, stored at ultra-low temperature (-196 -degrees-C), remained constant. Cryopreserved pollen was shown to reta in its ability for fertilisation. The effects of the stage of flower d evelopment and anther dehiscence were assessed on both pre- and post-c ryopreservation viabilities. Successful long-term storage of pollen wi ll facilitate hybridisation of rose species and cultivars that do not flower synchronously.