Cryogenic Storage of Grape Pollen

Abstract

The possibility of using liquid nitrogen storage conditions (-196°C) for the storage of grape (<i>Vitis vinifera</i>) pollen was demonstrated. Pollen from 21 cultivars was rapidly frozen and thawed. Germination tests were performed on 20% sucrose, 1% agar plates. No significant differences between unfrozen control samples and frozen pollen samples were found. Maximum differences in viability between control and frozen pollen were less than 5%.