I. Development of suspension media

Abstract

Abstract A number of aqueous solutions were evaluated as possible pollen carriers for the spray pollination of fruit trees. The viability of apple, kiwifruit, oil palm, and plum pollen was markedly reduced after pollen was suspended in water. This loss of viability could be partly overcome by slow hydration of the pollen in moist air before its suspension. The viability of hydrated oil palm and kiwifruit pollen after suspension in calcium nitrate solution of low concentration with or without boric acid, was similar to that of hydrated pollen germinated directly. Similar results were obtained with apple and plum pollens, provided that pentaerythritol was added to the suspension medium. However, the viability of apple, kiwifruit, and plum pollen that had been suspended in these media was substantially reduced during drying on a simulated stigma surface. For kiwifruit, the loss of pollen viability after drying could be partially overcome by the further addition of sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, with or without sodium alginate, to the suspension medium.