Effectiveness of cold stored pollen on seed formation in East Indian lotus(Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn.)

Stigmas of East Indian lotus (Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn.) is receptive to pol len only one or two days during anthesis. Pollen were stored to examine the effective crossing period for seed formation. The seed formation rate was markedly decreased when the pollen was kept at 29 +/- 3 degreesC for 7 days . No significant difference was observed in the seed formation percentage b etween fresh pollen and those stored at - 20 +/- 1 degreesC for 14 days wit h silica gel as a desiccant. Similar results were obtained in several cross ing combinations. Seed formation was possible with pollen stored for about one year under these conditions but the success rate greatly diminished. Ou r results indicate that East Indian lotus pollen can be stored dry at - 20 +/- 1 degreesC for long durations so that the pollination period can be pro longed.