Conservation and degreasing of bacury pollen grains

Abstract:

The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of methods of oil extraction from bacury (Platonia insignis) pollen grains, on their viability. Seven treatments were evaluated for lipid extraction of pollen grains, five of which by immersion in petroleum ether for 30 s (T1), 60 s (T2), 300 s (T3), 600 s (T4), and 900 s (T5), and two treatments by immersion in 25% alcohol and 75% petroleum ether for 60 s (T6) and 900 s (T7); besides a control without solvents. Subsequently, degreased pollen grains were subjected to an in vitro germination test. Pollen grains subjected to T2, T3, T4, and T5 showed lower lipid content than the control treatment. The T2 treatment provided the highest germination of pollen.

Index terms:
Platonia insignis; Clusiaceae; pollen storage; pollen viability.