Re: Collecting and Saving Pollen

John, 

No problem.? There are several methods.? Here is mine.?

??? Freezing Pollen:

???? Products:

1) 1 gallon zip lock bag. 
2)? one opened envelope of powdered milk.? (dessicant) (courtesy Collen on list . . . thanks!) 
3)? large business envelope (left open) with year marked on the side.? ??
4)? Post-It-Notes . . . good size.? (approx. 2 x 2) 

???? Process:

1)? Collect anthers with tweezers.? Or snap off bloom if you prefer.
2)??Make sure the pollen is dry.? Allow it to mature if freshly opened?bloom. An hour is usually enough, but check.
3)? Write name of pollen donor on?post-it-note, fold into thirds with name up.? 
4)? Place mature pollen?in post-it-note.??Fold the ends so the anthers won't fall out.
5)? Once?anthers are in this tiny envelope, place the envelope in the business envelope, remove excess air, zip, and freeze.??You can store a lot of pollen in a relatively small space.? (So long as the plastic bag is placed gently in a spot in the freezer and not disturbed, the powdered milk will not?migrate into the larger envelope.)? 

???? Using:

1)? Once you are ready to use the pollen?remove only the small envelope you need.
2)? Allow anthers to return to room temperature.? About an hour.??
3)? Apply like fresh pollen.?

I have two batches of seedlings from freezer pollen processed in this manner the previous fall, and some crosses that didn't take.? Just like regular pollination.??

Betty Wilkerson
Bridge In Time Irises
KY
Zone 6? 




?

<<Being the impatient person that I am, I don't want to go through the whole trial and error process on my own>>



-----Original Message-----
From: John Gwilliam <jkg2@cox.net>
To: Iris List <iris@hort.net>
Sent: Sun, 27 Apr 2008 11:19 pm
Subject: [iris] Collecting and Saving Pollen


Hello List,?
I'm sure that most of you who hybridize irises have run into the same frustrations as I have this season. With pollen parents blooming sometimes weeks before pod parents, it becomes necessary to save pollen for future use. I've put collected pollen in gel caps then stored them in the freezer and/or refrigerator. Being the impatient person that I am, I don't want to go through the whole trial and error process on my own. So, I'm looking for some of you breeders to share your success stories and ideas about storing pollen. Any information will be greatly appreciated.?
?
John Gwilliam?
Tempe, Arizona?
Zone 9 ?
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