A Note on Effect of Storage of Date Palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) Pollen Grains on Their Germination and Date’s Fruit Setting

Abstract

This investigation was initiated to study the effect of different
storage methods on in vitro germination of date palm pollen grains as well
as on fruit-setting. The collected pollen grains were stored in a
refrigerator, freezer and freezer after being immersed in liquid nitrogen.
After one year of storage, pollen viability was evaluated in terms of in
vitro germination percentage and fruit-setting. The results revealed that
the highest germination percentage and fruit-setting were associated with
fresh pollen grains stored in the freezer followed by storage in freezer
after immersion in liquid nitrogen and storage in the refrigerator. These
results indicated that well dried pollen grains could be stored in fairly
viable state until the following season in a freezer or a refrigerator.