New protocol for storage of viable pollen of Lapageria rosea (Philesiaceae), an endangered plant species endemic to temperate forests of Chile

Abstract

AbstractLapageria rosea is an emblematic species, endemic to the temperate rainforest of Chile. As a result of extensive plantation of commercial exotic pine and eucalypts, scattered individuals of L. rosea are now encountered mainly in fragmented forest areas. Therefore, L. rosea has been declared in danger of extinction. However, the success of national conservation programs depends, in part, on the availability of stored viable pollen grains for pollinating assays, in order to sustain the genetic diversity of L. rosea offspring. Here we describe a simple and low‐cost protocol for storing viable pollen grains for 1 year. The protocol involves oven‐drying freshly collected pollen grains at 37°C for 15 min, followed by storage at ‐13°C. The stored pollen has an average of 60–65% in vitro germination after 5 months, with a reduction to 50% by the end of 1 year, a value considered highly satisfactory to ensure the success of hand‐pollination trials.