Centre for Plant Breeding and Genetics TNAU, Coimbatore-641 003
The study was conducted in the parents of the sunflower hybrid KBSH-1 viz., CMS 234 A and RHA 6D-1 with four treatments, to improve the viability and efficiency of pollen by optimum storing technique during scarcity of pollen. The results showed that the treatments differed significantly from each other. In all the traits studied, the effect was more when pollen was stored in refrigerator followed by pot filled with water and covered by wet cloth. When the pollen was stored simply in earthen pot, the viability of pollen was less and hence, the seed filling percent, seed number or seed weight per head was also less. Therefore, in case of scarcity of pollen during pollination for hybrid seed production of KBSH-1 or when there is excess availability of pollen from restorer line-6D-1 due to lack of synchrony and to have better utility of available pollen, pollen grains may be stored either in refrigerator or in earthen pots filled with water and covered with wet cloth and utilized properly when male sterile line-CMS234A is receptive, to get increased yield.
Sunflower, pollen viability, refrigerator, earthen pot, wet cloth
