Study on the Pollen Characteristics and Storage of Citrus Interspecific Somatic Hybrid

The pollen characteristics of Citrus interspecific somatic hybrid "Hamlin sweet orange (Citrus sinensis) +Rough lemon (Citrus jambhiri)" was observed. The results showed that the medium containing 16% sucrose, 10 mg/kg H₃BO₄ and 0.8% agar in vitro culture was suitable for pollen germination, and the pollen germinability of "Hamlin sweet orange+ Rough lemon" was 15.31%, which indicated that the viability of interspecific somatic hybrid was intermediate to its parents and could be used as parent in future crossing. Pollen grains of "Hamlin sweet orange+Rough lemon" were stored at -20℃. The results showed that vocauum and dry condition (calcium chloride or silica gel as desiccants ) were benefit for the pollen storage. And the results of artificial pollination also showed that the fruit set with fresh pollen and stored pollen was not significantly different. Thus low temperature, vocauum and dry condition were benefit for the pollen storage of Citrus somatic hybrid.