Assessing the viability and storage life in pollen grains of rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Abstract

In rice (Oryza sativa L.), the major cereal and staple food of millions in the world, hybridization programmes are very crucial for crop improvement. When the parents involved in crossing programme are varying in their flowering duration, storage of pollen grains for long time is highly advantageous for producing desirable hybrid combinations at any time. A study was undertaken to assess the viability and storage life of rice pollen grains through different storage methods. The anthers with pollen grains of the rice variety Uma, were collected from the field lab and transferred to various storage media. Aluminium foil and polythene bag were used as storage materials along with/without desiccators. Silica gel, Rice flour and raw rice were used as the desiccators. Samples packed in various storage media were kept under different conditions like Ambient, Refrigerator and Freezer. Afterwards, viability (%) of each sample was observed on 5th, 10th, 15th, 20th, 25th and 30th day of the storage using Acetocarmine dye method. The results after one month of storage indicated that pollen kept in Aluminium foil with silica in all the conditions showed better viability percentage, and the highest (87.24%) was in Freezer. Pollen grains had low viability in normal storage (without any media/dessicator) in all cases except ambient condition wherein, the lowest percentage of viability was noticed in Polythene bag without silica. This result indicates that the pollen storage in the Aluminium foil with silica gel in freezer condition is a highly effective and promising strategy for plant breeders and farmers, involved in plant breeding, hybridisation and genetic conservation programmes.