Pollen preservation and germination studies in Arachis species

Abstract

Wild Arachis is a native of South America, with its cultivated species Arachis hypogea L. grown world-wide. One of the surest ways of broadening the narrow genetic base of the crop is by introducing variation through wide hybridization. If methods can be developed to preserve Arachis pollen for international transfer and their use later in crossing program, it might be an alternate method to import wild species germplasm from other countries. Pollen preservation can also improve the efficiency of breeding program and aid incorporation of unique traits from diverse sources of germplasm [1].