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Worcester, Massachusetts

How long will pollen from the male flower remain viable if kept refridgerated?

11/15/2004 11:58:10 AM

Hudsonville, Michigan (michiganpumpkins@sbcglobal.net)

Good question. I just found a bunch in the freezer from this July. Anybody know if it will last until next season? Or should I pitch it?
Frank

11/15/2004 12:12:47 PM

That State Up North

I have kept pollen in my fridge, and had success up to 7 days. Viability drops off fast after 5 days, and I would say you have a good 60% chance at day 5. I usualy target 3 days, and have had very good success doing that. In terms of putting them in the freezer, I managed one pollination to take out of many attempts for 1 year old pollen that was stored in my freezer. That particular fruit was essentialy seedless when harvested however.
Lincoln Mettler has done other experimentation with liquid Nitrogen, and claims there may be a way to make year to year crosses.

Nic Welty

11/17/2004 6:11:20 PM

Cornwall UK.(50N 5W)300ft.

I used to own a liquid Nitrogen flask for the storage of cattle semen for A.I.

Secondhand flasks typically sell for £200 in the U.K.and come up for sale often due to the rapid decline in the number of dairy herds in the country.They have a glass interior like a giant thermos and are very fragile.
The Nitrogen evaporates over time and the flasks have to be topped up every 6 mths or so that will probably cost you about £100 p.a. so I don't grow enough plants to make it viable somebody like Kew Garden who have a multi million £ seed bank would be able to advise you on preparation and thawing out of pollen I don't think it would be difficult.

11/18/2004 3:28:55 AM

Appalachian Mtns.

Moisture control is a big key I think. That's what always seems to get me with storing or freezing pollen.

11/18/2004 5:50:52 AM

New England

I can't comment on the storage of pumpkin pollen but I can say that those who culture roses successfully store their pollen in a 20% liquid sucrose solution (some advocate a sugar/boric acid formula) and it will remain viable, if refridgerated, for about 10 months. The dessication of many flower pollens is often deleterious and irreversable...successful results cannot be obtained by rehydration. Having said that...orchid pollen can be stored up to 2 years in a cool, dry place with a dessicant (typically blue silica or a horticultural desicant called "Drierite") And some vegetable pollens (certain cabbage varieties for example) can remain viable up to 2 years at -20 f. In short, pollen storage & viability is specific to the plant species being looked at.

11/18/2004 9:42:37 AM