MORPHOLOGY AND IN-VITRO POLLEN GERMINATION OF DACRYODES EDULIS (BURSERACEAE) - PARAMETERS FOR OPTIMAL GERMINATION

A study of the morphology of pollen of Dacryodes edulis has shown that it is: isopolar, tricolporate, prolate. The structural characteristic s of the exine show the possibility for long-term pollen storage. In v itro, germination is optimal on Brewbaker & Kwack medium containing 15 or 20% sucrose at pH 5,3. Incubation is carried out at 30 degrees C i n the dark. Germination is very fast; 60% of the pollen grains germina ted after one hour of incubation but three hours are necessary for opt imal germination and pollen tube elongation. After 24 months of storag e at - 20 degrees C, the mean percentage of germination is 8%.