Effects of short-term storage on germinability of pistachio pollen

The effects of short-term storage under room conditions (constant 25°C and 35% relative humidity), refrigeration (4°C) and freezing (- 20°C) on the germinability of pollen of pistachio, Pistacia vera L., were studied and the effects of desiccation and pollen age on its germinability were reassessed. It was found that: (1) weight loss as a result of desiccation was positively correlated with germinability; (2) pollen grains stored in room conditions only germinated after prehydration, which restored germinability even after 7 days of exposure; (3) refrigerated (4°C) pollen grains retained their germinability for at least a week; (4) frozen pollen grains irreversibly lost most of their germinability; (5) 2-day-old pollen grains, within the anthers, retained their germinability under room conditions. These findings will contribute to the improvement of pistachio pollen preservation and help to find a simple and inexpensive method for its short-term storage, while retaining its germinability.