A study on the storage of Lilium pollen

Pollen grains of Lilium species, cultivars and hybrids were stored at 4°C and tested for their viability by in vitro pollen germination and in vivo seed formation. Gelatin capsules were superior to paraffin paper pockets as receptacles to retain the germination capacity of pollen grains of L. X 'Enchantment'; 6065% relative humidities (RH) were found to be optimum for their storage. Pollen grains of 12 Lilium plants were enclosed in gelatin capsules and stored in desiccators with 6065% RH at 4°C for periods of 9 to 12 months. Eight of them retained the germination capacity in vitro, but the rate of germination and the length of pollen tubes varied with Lilium species and cultivars. Stored pollen grains of L. maculatum and L. auratum formed as many seeds as freshly harvested pollen. Pollen grains of other Lilium plants germinated well in vitro, but they produced only a few seeds per pod. These results revealed that stored pollen grains may have the in vitro germination capacity, but only those from a few species and cultivars have the ability to produce seed.