LONG TERM POLLEN PRESERVATION OF WILD TOMATO, BRINJAL SPECIES AND CULTIVARS IN LIQUID NITROGEN

Abstract

Preserving pollen of wild species and cultivated crops assume importance
for safeguarding the pollen parents in any crop improvement program and
dispense away with the need for growing the same frequently. It is well
documented in literature (Roberts, 1975) that long term pollen preservation
forms a part of an integrated gene resources conservation program. Pollen
can be made available in abundant quantities and forms an ideal compact
material for conservation of recombined genetic information present in pollen
at the gametophytic stage. Although in nature pollen viability and longevity
varies with different crop species, methods are available for preserving vegetable
pollen for extended durations (Alexander and Ganeshan,