Viability and fertilizing capacity of onion pollen (Allium cepa L.) stored in liquid nitrogen (-196°C)

Abstract

Pollen collected from freshly opened onion flowers was processed and cyropreserved in liquid nitrogen at -196°C Viability was determined by germination percentages at 90, 180, 270 and 360-day intervals. Fertility of the deep-frozen pollen was assessed at 225 and 360 days by controlled pollinations on a male sterile line, carried out under field, glasshouse and laboratory conditions. Pollen viability and fertility were not affected by 360 days' cryopreservation. Stored pollen gave better results when used in controlled pollinations carried out under glasshouse and laboratory conditions than under field conditions.