ISHS Acta Horticulturae 457: Symposium on Plant Biotechnology as a tool for the Exploitation of Mountain Lands
TEST OF THE VIABILITY AND CONSERVATION OF THE POLLEN OF ARTEMISIA ANNUA L. |
| Authors: | N. Delabays, F. Obrist |
| Abstract:
Artemisia annua L. synthesizes a molecule with very potent antimalarial properties: artemisinin. In order to improve the production of this valuable compound, breeding of strains with high artemisinin content are in progress. Such programs need the realisation of numerous hybridisations, sometime between genotypes whose flowering is difficult to synchronise. In this context, the possibility to conserve the pollen of the species would facilitate genetics studies and breeding programs. First, a medium has been developed to test the viability of the pollen. Efficient and rapid germination of the pollen grains can be achieved on a medium composed of 7 g/l agar, 300 g/l saccharose and 50 g/l boric acid in distilled water. Secondly, for conservation, good results have been obtained by storing the pollen grains at -25°C in 35% relative humidity. | |
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