Dempsey, W. H. and M. Yamaguchi.
Good seed set has been obtained in a number of cases by using stored pollen which has been initially freeze-dried. In the freeze-drying technique, fresh pollen is collected in gelatin capsules and placed in a lyophilization apparatus, which consists of a vacuum chamber which can be immersed in a dry-ice and ether bath. The pollen is freeze dried overnight and then stored at O deg. F over CaCl\2. It can be used immidiately after removal from storage. Storage over CAC\2 at 68 deg. F has so far resulted in no fruit set. Not all pollen lots responded to this treatment, however, as some failed to set fruits. Also, many embryos aborted at various stages of development in most of the fruits that were set. The following table gives some of the results of applying stored pollen to male-sterile plants.
______________________________________________________ Pollen age Description Fruits Seeds Germination ______________________________________________________ 2 days Pearson 4 146 40 1 year Pearson 0 0 0 1 year Tiny Tim 7 60 75 1 year L. pimp 6 350 70 ______________________________________________________The seedlings produced by the stored pollen have appeared normal. Mature plants will be grown and progeny tested this year.