Short-term Storage of Almond Pollen

Almond (Prunus dulcis (Mill.) D.A. Webb) breeding programs require successful techniques for pollen storage. We studied the pollen viability of two almond cultivars, 'Ramillete' and 'Desmayo Largueta', during 8 weeks of storage, in conditions that simulated standard situations including storage at 4, 22, and 4 °C alternating with 22 °C (4 °C/22 °C). Viability remained at 60% or more for 2 weeks under all three conditions. After the second week, germination capacity decreased rapidly at 22 °C, but remained above 50% for as long as 8 weeks at 4 °C or 4 °C/22 °C. of ≈0.5 g were stored for 8 weeks in hermeti- cally sealed 25-mL glass vials (RH ≈30%) at 4 °C, 22 °C, or at 4 °C for 18 h and 22 °C for 6 h (4 °C/22 °C) each day. In vitro germination of pollen. Pollen samples were taken weekly during 8 weeks of storage. A fine paint brush was used to deposit the pollen on the surface of the agar in a petri