OIL PALM (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) IMPROVEMENT: POLLEN ASSESSMENT FOR BETTER CONSERVATION AND GERMINATION

Planting of improved Elaeis guineensis seeds to increase oil production is a sustainable strategy to mitigate the impact of crop-based demand for bioenergy. But breeders need a quality pollen stock for successful hybridisation of outcrossing plants. This study was carried out to determine suitable conditions for in vitro germination and conservation of oil palm pollen. Performance of pollen germination was measured in three distinct culture media: Brewbaker and Kwack (BK), Heslop-Harrison (HH), and Arnaud (FA) media, each supplemented with seven sucrose concentration [suc] (0%, 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, 30%) for five incubation durations (1-5 hr). Optimal germination scores of 73%, 41% and 39% for BK (15% [suc]), HH and FA (10% [suc]) were obtained respectively after 3 hr of incubation at 38 degrees C. Fresh pollen was also treated to four moisture content (MC) ranges: 100%, 78%-70%, 65%-57% and 41%-3% [on fresh weight (FW) basis]. In vitro germination scores of 81%, 83%, 56% and 29% were obtained respectively when cultured in BK (15% [suc]) after 3 hr of incubation. After 50 days of storage, pollen with MC 78%-70% scored in vitro germination of 70% and 3% at -20 degrees C and 10 degrees C, respectively. These results precisely determine optimal conditions for oil palm pollen ex situ conservation thereby optimising its usage.