Re: HYB: Storing pollen

Thanks Betty & Paul. I know we've discussed all this before, but I'm getting forgetful, plus each time, I keep hoping a light bulb will go on to improve success rate.
Betty, I really "get" your comments about being able to recognize good pollen by sight; also that "bad" pollen and dried up looking stigmatic surfaces can sometimes work too. Definitely did <not> have the ability to recognize good pollen & receptive blooms the first few years. Now, I occasionally check by rubbing a bit between my fingers, just to make sure, and it's always been good.
Also, Paul, your tip about getting pollen before the bugs eat all the good stuff is another one I've learned the hard way. Anther may have pollen on it, but only the dregs not fit to eat that the bugs have left behind.
Now that I think about it some more, I suspect that not having really good pollen to start with is the main problem with pollen I've tried to store in the freezer. With humidity a lesser issue.
When I bring the container of stored pollen out of the fridge, I let it sit in front of the dehumidifier until there is no more condensation on the outside. Then open the jar and remove individual packets of pollen.
I did some web surfing for humidity, plant breeding, freezing pollen, and found some references that say the pollen has to be rehydrated after freezing to restore fertility. I remember Mike Sutton mentioning breathing gently on frozen, brittle anthers to make them easier to work with, so that makes sense to me now.
So too much humidity destroys pollen, but too little and it wont' germinate readily. Paul, leaving anthers on the stigmatic lip to rehydrate probably works really well!
I like those little test strips that change color depending on humidity, plus they are reusable, and love the price - 40 cents each! Only question remaining is what humidity is optimal for storing frozen pollen - couldn't find that info anywhere - can't access most of the articles I found online. But I did find that the colder it is, the longer it keeps.
Re: brushes - I started using cheap Dollar Store kid's watercolor paint brushes a couple of years ago and really like them. The bristles are stiff nylon?, black, cut flat across the end, don't absorb moisture, and are very good at lifting (scrubbing) pollen from stubborn somewhat dry anthers. I swirl or brush or scrub across the anthers enough to get the flat tip of the brush coated, then gently roll it across the stigmatic lip. If the bloom is receptive, it pulls the pollen off very efficiently.
Betty, I clean brushes between crosses with saliva. Easy to dry the brush quickly since the bristles don't seem to absorb any moisture. 

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Linda Mann east Tennessee USA zone 7/8
East Tennessee Iris Society <http://www.DiscoverET.org/etis>
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