Estudio de distintos métodos de conservación de polen de calabacín (Curcubita pepo L.)

Abstract

Breeding programmes in zucchini (Cucurbita pepo) are focused in obtaining genetic variability by mutant population induced with chemical agent as ethyl methanesulfonate. This chemical agent causes morphological and physiological changes that may alter flowering pattern of C. pepo, preventing selfing. Pollen storage may allow artificially selfing in mutant plants with abnormal flowering pattern. Cucurbita pepo pollen has a short longevity and nowadays there are few studies on storage methods. In this work, we have compared different storage conditions (temperature, humidity and immersion in organic solvents) of pollen collected in two development stages, anthesis and anthesis-1 (one day before anthesis), with the aim of extending pollen viability. Viability of stored pollen was assessed by histochemical test TTC and fruit set and seed production. Storage of complete flowers in anthesis stage at 4ºC maintained pollen viability up 96 hours, however, only stored pollen up 48 hours was able to produce seeded fruits. Pollen from flower in a stage previous to anthesis, set fruits, but these fruits had not seeds.