STORAGE OF DATE PALM POLLEN (PHOENIX-DACTYLIFERA L) .1. PRELIMINARY-RESULTS

The date palm is a dioecious plant in which artificial pollination is an essential cultural practice. In some cultivars, the asynchronous maturation between male and female flowers (Protogyny) involves the development of parthenocarpic fruits. In this case. the pollen storage is necessary. Authors attempt to use four means of storage and preservation and study three factors which influence pollen viability during storage, with the object to know the favourable conditions of Date Palm pollen storage both in short term (some months) and in long term (some years). The mean which gives the best results (high termination percentage) is the dessicator contained an anhydrous calcium chloride and placed in cold room (+4-degrees-C). The results of freeze-drying essay is satisfactory and the carbonic gas has a favourable action on the preservation of pollen viability.