Pollen Ponder

From: Francesca R Thoolen <IRISGIRL@compuserve.com>

FOR DAVID SIDWELL: - Pollen longevity varies with different species of
irises. I have been been able to save arils iris pollen for the whole
season of about 4 weeks (at most) sent whatever pollen I had left to New
Mexico and they have used successfully thereafter. On the other hand the
pollen of I. pumila and the californicae series of irises seem to be very
ephemeral. If I cannot use it fresh, i.e., taking the anther and using its
pollen immediately on to other bearded irises such arils or TBs the "takes"
are greatly reduced to almost nil after a week in cool weather to maybe 1
day in hot weather. I have read that some breeders pick their pollen early
in the morning and use refrigeration to preserve them a little longer. For
me this is too much trouble and I just grow more of the "ephemeral ones" to
compensate for the low percentage of takes. - FRT. 

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