Post-cryogenic regeneration of pollen of pear (Pyrus L.) cultivars from the VIR field genebank

¹ Federal Research Center the N.I. Vavilov All-Russian Institute of Plant Genetic Resources (VIR) 42,44, Bolshaya Morskaya Street, 190000, St. Petersburg, Russia
² Federal Research Center the N.I. Vavilov All-Russian Institute of Plant Genetic Resources (VIR), Maikop Experiment Station-branch of VIR, 1 Nauchnaya Street, Podgorny Settlement, Maikop District, 385746, Republic of Adygea, Russia

^* Corresponding author: vverzhuk@ mail.ru

Abstract

The viability of pollen after its storage in liquid nitrogen was tested on the example of 10 pear varieties from the field gene bank of the branch of the Maikop Experimental Station of VIR. The evaluation of pollen viability indicated a varietal difference in the values of germinated pollen before and after cryopreservation. Checking the initial values of pollen viability, before immersion in nitrogen showed that increased values after germination were found in the varieties Talgarskaya Krasavitsa (73.82%) and Figa Alonsonskaya (72.85%). After cryopreservation, the maximum pollen viability was observed in varieties Shakar Geni (84.34%) and Figa Alonsonskaya (68.43%). Low pollen viability before and after nitrogen was found in variety Latifa (8.14% initial and 6.04% after cryopreservation). The obtained result on average (51.81%) exceeds the level of international standards (40.0%) and meets the requirements of regeneration of varieties after long-term preservation in nitrogen. These studies allow us to note that pollen of pear varieties after cryopreservation in liquid nitrogen can be used in practice for crossing or pollination with other varieties, thus obtaining genotypes resistant to various diseases and pests and improved taste qualities.