STORAGE-TEMPERATURE AFFECTS VIABILITY OF BANKSIA-MENZIESII POLLEN

Storage of Banksia menziesii pollen was assessed at 20, 4, -20, -80, a nd -196 degrees C using a semisolid medium of 1% agar, 15% sucrose, 0. 01% boric acid, 0.03% calcium nitrate, 0.02% magnesium sulfate, 0.01% potassium nitrate, and an incubation temperature of 25 degrees C, The germination percentage remained constant at approximate to 70% in all treatments except for pollen stored at 20 degrees C, which exhibited o nly 25% germination after 6 months. Pollen viability was assessed usin g fluorescein diacetate (FDA), but the results did not reflect the los s of germinability at 20 degrees C and correlation with in vitro resul ts was variable. Floret position on the inflorescence did not affect g ermination, but pollen viability varied over the flowering period with maximum germination at midseason.