Storing Pollen in zip-lock baggies

My friend Bryan has been storing pollen in zip-lock bags and putting them in the freezer.  After 15 crosses, he did not get one to take.
 
He wrote me thinking there was something in the plastic that kills the pollen and asked me what I thought. 
 
I remember years ago doing that, but had abandoned using zip-lock bags for some reason...  But, as an experiment, I grabbed some pollen, threw it into a baggie and threw that in the fridge.  After two weeks I pulled it out to use it and then I remembered why I did not use zip lock baggies anymore...
 
The entire anther was moist and limp.  Even after allowing to dry for 2 hours, it was still limp.  I had to use a toothpick to transfer the pollen. 
 
I just went out to look, and I am still unsure if the crosses took.  The pods are slightly swollen but very small.  I am thinking they may just be balloon pods or have only one or two seeds developing. 
 
Patrick Orr
Phoenix, AZ  Zone 9
USA

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