Re: frozen pollen viability, update

 

Dennis

Thanks for mentioning this. Tossing the freezer yesterday I found 2 vials of pollen, an early flowering PCI and I unguicularis, from last year. My plan is to use them on early flowering PCIs next spring (as I had forgotten them this spring). Great reminder. 

Would you tell me more about how you stored your pollen?

Kathleen 
Pacific NW coast



On Jun 13, 2014, at 8:49 AM, Dennis Kramb d*@badbear.com [iris-species] <i*@yahoogroups.com> wrote:


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 resp! ondents 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.  F! ingers crossed!  Tetra-versata with tetra-pseudacorus cou! ld produce fertile offspring.  Fingers crossed!!!

Dennis in Cincinnati



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