Response of Date Palm Pollen Tube Growth to Storage Period and Conditions

Abstract

The growth rate of pollen tube of date palm (Pheonix dactylifera L.) pollen grains stored either freeze-dried or unfreeze-dried at 25, 4 and - 8°C was measured after 3,7 and 12 months of storage. The growth of pollen tube was found to be a function of storage period and storage conditions. The elongation rate of pollen tube of pollen grains stored at 25°C and 4°C decreased during storage and the reduction was obvious for unfreeze-dried pollen, while pollen grains stored at - 8°C maintained high pollen tube growth rate over the storage period.