Testes de germinação in vitro e armazenamento de pólen de pitangueira (Eugenia uniflora L.)

The objective of the present work was to check the best medium and conditions for in vitro germination of pollen of Surinam cherry ( Eugenia uniflora ). Possibility of storage in freezer was also studied. The pollen was collected from flowers at balloon stage and immediately after anthesis in two populations of this species at Embrapa Clima Temperado Research Center, Pelotas, of state Rio Grande do Sul , Brazil. The tested media were the standard (10% sugar, plus 1% agar dissolved in distilled water), and the addition of two H 3 BO 3 concentrations (0.65 mM and 1.3 mM) to this medium. Incubation temperatures of 20, 25 and 30oC were tested. The best germination percentage was achieved after five hours incubating at 25°C. Boron did not influence the pollen germination of Surinam cherry. The pollen lost viability after 105 days of storage in freezer.