frozen pollen viability, update

 

6 to 8 weeks ago I asked around & around (on here, arilrobin, facebook, private emails, etc.) about the viability of very old pollen stored in the freezer. Pretty much nobody answered. Most respondents only keep it for 1 year.

I had about 18 anthers of Werckmeister's Clone #2 stored in my freezer. They were from 2001. They were still loaded with fluffy pollen. As bloom season progressed I smeared that pollen on just about every cultivar that bloomed. Pod after pod withered & died. Except for those on Satan's Mistress. I realize it's premature to jump to conclusions, but from appearances that 13 year-old pollen worked.

I had 3 anthers from Iris vinicolor from 2002. I only applied it to 2 flowers: one Iris fulva, and one Iris brevicaulis. The fulva pod withered, but the brevicaulis pod is growing. Again, I hate to be premature, but it's exciting to think that this 12 year-old pollen worked.

I have 6 anthers from Beuron (tet. pseudacorus) from 2002. Encouraged by the other old pollen results, yesterday I started applying it to my tetra-versata flowers. Fingers crossed! Tetra-versata with tetra-pseudacorus could produce fertile offspring. Fingers crossed!!!

Dennis in Cincinnati

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