Tropicultura (Jan 2011)
Conservation des pollens de deux plantes mellifères (Vitellaria paradoxa et Steganotaenia araliacea) de la région de l'Adamaoua Cameroun
Abstract
Conservation of Pollens of Two Honey Species (Vitellaria paradoxa and Steganotaenia araliaceae) in the Region of Adamawa (Cameroon). The Adamaoua Region of Cameroon is a significant apiculture zone. The threats on the plant bioversity of this zone calls for the conservation of pollens, which in turn is necessary for the improvement and conservation of melliferous plants. Permanent maintenance of the flora is essential in research where pollens serve as base of plant material. In order to optimize conservation parameters of pollens of the two melliferous plants threatened (Vitellaria paradoxa and Steganotaenia araliaceae), in vitro tests (base medium, sucrose concentration, temperature, pH), dehydration time, and then storage of pollens in the fridge (+ 10 °C) as well as in the freezer (- 20 °C) were carried out. According to the results, pollen of the two plant species showed high germination rate in the Heslop-Harrison medium supplemented with 10 and 15% sucrose respectively for V. paradoxa and S. araliaceae. The optimum germination rates (39% and 20%) were obtained respectively at pH 5.6 and 5.9 while optimum temperature was at 30 °C. Pollen of S. araliaceae were more tolerant to dehydration 8 weeks after drying in a desiccator containing silice grains. Pollen of two species still germinated more than 1% after 8 weeks of storage in the freezer. One week dehydration considerably extended storage period of pollens of the two plant species compared to the control. In the defined conditions, pollen grains of the two species can be stored for future use in plant breeding programs.
