The invention provides novel solutions and methods for storage and delivery of pollen to a female reproductive part of a recipient plant. The pollen storage solution provided includes a solute that maintains the tonicity of the pollen storage solution at a concentration between about 0.5 M and about 3.0 M and a cryoprotectant. The methods provided include storing the pollen storage solution and applying pollen stored in the storage pollen solution to at least a first female reproductive part of a recipient plant, thereby pollinating the female reproductive part with the stored pollen from the donor plant.

Disclosed herein are biopolymer-based coatings and products incorporating such coatings. Related methods and use are also provided.

Disclosed herein are biopolymer-based coatings and products incorporating such coatings. Related methods and use are also provided.

The present invention provides pollen compositions, methods and kits for making said compositions, and methods of using said compositions to fertilize a plant. The pollen within these compositions has increased longevity and can be used to fertilize plants for an extended period of time as compared to pollen prepared using conventional methods. Also provided are methods of collecting pollen from a maize plant by maturing individual tassel branches off of the plant and vessels for collecting the pollen from these individual branches.

The present invention provides pollen compositions, methods and kits for making said compositions, and methods of using said compositions to fertilize a plant. The pollen within these compositions has increased longevity and can be used to fertilize plants for an extended period of time as compared to pollen prepared using conventional methods. Also provided are methods of collecting pollen from a maize plant by maturing individual tassel branches off of the plant and vessels for collecting the pollen from these individual branches.

Described are methods of preserving cereal crop pollen and/or anthers. A method of the present invention includes collecting fresh pollen and/or anthers and introducing the pollen and/or anthers to field conditioning conditions which regulate pollen moisture content. The field conditioning conditions may include a an air flow at a humidity ranging from 0% to about 99% and a temperature ranging from about −10-10° C. The field conditioning conditions may further include a flow of one or more continuously refreshed, selected gases. The field conditioning conditions may dehydrate the pollen to achieve a pollen moisture content of about 15% to about 35%.

Described are methods of preserving cereal crop pollen and/or anthers. A method of the present invention includes collecting fresh pollen and/or anthers and introducing the pollen and/or anthers to field conditioning conditions which regulate pollen moisture content. The field conditioning conditions may include a an air flow at a humidity ranging from 0% to about 99% and a temperature ranging from about −10-10° C. The field conditioning conditions may further include a flow of one or more continuously refreshed, selected gases. The field conditioning conditions may dehydrate the pollen to achieve a pollen moisture content of about 15% to about 35%.

Embodiments of the present invention relate to methods of preparing a cell, tissue, organ or plant for cryopreservation, wherein the method includes contacting the cell, tissue, organ or plant with a composition including sucrose and/or sucralose.

Embodiments of the present invention relate to methods of preparing a cell, tissue, organ or plant for cryopreservation, wherein the method includes contacting the cell, tissue, organ or plant with a composition including sucrose and/or sucralose.

Liquid compositions for preserving and storing pollen, especially maize pollen, include pollen suspensions in solutions with particular pH ranges. Methods for preserving and storing pollen, especially maize pollen, include suspending pollen in solutions with particular pH ranges and storing them at particular temperatures.