How long is pollen viable?

Does anyone out there know about the shelf life of mg pollen? I have known plant breeders to collect pollen and freeze while it is abundant in order to ue it to make a cross onto another plant that bloomed at a different time of the year. I don't have a clue about mgs. Any experience out there? Frank

Fresh pollen is best...I've used pollen that is kept dry and cool for several months...there are people who freeze it >particularly in liquid nitrogen where it can retain viability for decades...but I have no first hand experience with deep frozen pollen...

TTY,...

Ron

You could try and see. I try and grow everything I want to cross in the same time period but it`s true the two flowers I might have in mind to cross are not always available on the same morning.

I thought about experimenting with freezing pollen and using it on crosses whenever I can`t seem to get two flowers to bloom at the same time or I`m having trouble finding the pollen on time. It is likely something could be learned and knowledge gained from attempting this. You could try different things and see what happens.

Ive used many diff types of frozen pollen some was as old as 20 mnts old i use a lot on my Brugs and Cannas i have some frozzen mg pollen ill let you know how it does Paul

I have a liquid nitrogen tank that I used to use to hold straws of cattle and goat semen for AI. I think that would probably work for storing pollen.

LOL LOL, Beth, if you don't edit that last post, you are going to have tell evryon who Al is, and what he wanted with it. I'd bet 5% of our readers know what AI is. I am laughing so hard I had about 10 corrections to make. Frank

Artefisheal Insemuneashun...(?)

I guess that is funny. Having lived on a farm so long I just figure EVERYBODY knows what AI is!
A friend of mine was in the local market and saw her neighbor and friend standing in a line down the row. She said loudly, "My husband has that semen you've been wanting at the house". There was total silence in the market.

LOL

lol..lol..I can just picture the people at the market..

We've never done it that way at my house. lol My neighbor's Angus bull is completely capable of jumping the fence when there is a cow in heat and giving you airmail and special delivery. When I saw my cow and his bull come skipping down out of the woods, I knew it was ok to call Fred now and tell him where his missing bull is. When he got here, he and his dad were extremely embarassed and nervous. If MY BULL jumped the fence into his pasture, it would be HIS BULL now. As they pulled out to go home, I waved and yelled thanks for picking up the cow. And that was how I got interested in the shelf life of pollen. Frank

This message was edited Mar 7, 2007 6:31 PM

This farm boy is smiling!

LOL!! I wasn't in the 5% ☺

ByndeweedBeth
fchilders neighbor
When your Megalomart has a sign that says "SERVICE ANIMALS ONLY" doesn't that mean you may bring your bull.

Thanks to the advent of AI, no one really has to "bring the bull" anymore.

Well, I think we all needed a laugh. Felt good. Frank