Pollen Cryopreservation Protocol for Tuberose (Polianthes tuberosa L.)

Tuberose (Polianthes tuberosa L.) is an important commercial cut flower in Asia. Commonly grown cultivars bear spikes with either single or double or variegated type of flowers. Self and cross-pollination studies revealed that "single types" are self-incompatible, whereas "variegated" ones are self-compatible. Self-incompatibility in "single" is gametophytic in nature with the pollen tubes getting inhibited in the style. In vitro pollen germination and cryopreservation studies were carried out for three cultivars of tuberose (single types), i.e., Arka Nirantara, IIHR-6 and Shringar, to check their viability and feasibility for long-term storage. Germination of fresh pollen was recorded to be 60.50%, 58.00%, and 51.00% for Shringar, IIHR-6 and Arka Nirantara, respectively, in Brewbaker and Kwack medium after 3 h of incubation. After viability confirmation, the fresh pollen were packed in butter paper cover with aluminum foil sealing and immediately plunged into liquid nitrogen. The stored pollen are taken out after 1 week for viability and fertility assessment. There was no decline in the viability of the pollen after cryopreservation for duration of 1 week. The details of the materials used and method developed for protocol are discussed in this chapter.