Studies on pollen suspension for saving labour in pollination of fruit trees.

Abstract

1. A small amount of alcohol was added to the solution in which pollen of pear, apple and persimmon were suspended for the purpose of a intaining their viability. This solution was tested under laboratory of field condition.2. In the case of pear, 7% alcohol added to the suspension inhibited pollen germination in suspension and was effective to maintain its viability. A particularly favorable result was obtained when the alcohol sucrose suspension was used.3. The germination percentage of apple pollen was quite low in the suspension containning 5% alcohol during 2-3 hours after pollen was immersed, and a high percentage of pollen germination and good growth of pollen tube were observed on the germination media.There was no difference in the set percentage of Golden Delicious apple between the flowers pollinated with mixed pollen of American Summer Pearmain and McIntosh varieties suspended for 3 hours in the solution and those pollinated with intact pollen. And no significant difference in the number of seeds per fruit was observed.4. The pollen of persimmon in the suspension containing 5% alcohol showed a low percentage of germiation in the solution and a high per centage of germination and vigorous growth of pollen tube on the media. The most suitable time for using the suspended pollen for pollination is within one hour after the suspension is prepared. The pollen suspension sprayed one hour after the preparation showed a similar degree of fruit set as the intact pollen.