Preservation of cactus pollen

I found a note, how to preserve cactus pollen on an overseas website.
It said you could keep for 1 year with the method.
I collected 2 samples and test that the method does or does not work.
1st result will come 6 months later and 2nd one will be 1 year later.
Hanazono

1. Asterias cv super kabuto was in flower on 12/07/10


2. Collected pollen
The photo is the flower after removed pollen


3. Dryed pollen 24 hours and put it in a gelatine capsule


4. Put the capusle and moisture absorber in a small plastic bin


5. Put the bin in a larger plastic box and keep in fridge

thanks hanazono, you forgot to add the bit about wriating on the capsule in tiny tiny writing

I've heard similar techniques where you cover the end of a cotton bud in pollen, and then stand it up in silica gel or some other drying agent, put it in an airtight container and then in the fridge..

Be interesting to see how your tests go...Is that Damprid (anhydrous calcium chloride) you're using as the drying agent ??

Even if it reliably extends the pollens life for a few weeks, it'd be handy...

You can freeze it as well. If you put the anthers into small containers and allow the pollen to dehisc and dry out (only one day.. two max) then you can freeze it to keep over many years. When you want to use it you need to make sure you let it come to temperature naturallly and slowly in the closed container to ensure condensation doesn't ruin it.

Navajoa
I tried to get silica gel from chemists but I could not.
The drying agent I used is nuknown name. ( No mentioned on the package )
I bought a moisture absorber package named "Hippo" and picked drying agent up from the package.
Hanazono

sushi wraps (seaweed) come with large packets of silica gel /dessicant

I believe uncooked rice is also a good dessicant.

treasure thread, thanks everyone

As the 1st step, I tried to use 3months preserved pollen.
I crossed on 07/10/10.
It seems working.
Next trial will be 6 months.
Hanazono
Mother plant


On 15/10/10

Necro'd!

How did your experiments go hanazono??? Was the hippo a good descant? What where the results?

Pollen of super kabuto reserved 6 months worked well, similar result to fresh one.
I tested Echinocactus horizontharonius. This also worked well.

I still use the "hippo" without any issues.

Fantastic. I am looking at putting together a pollen bank as I have limited breeding pairs and they usual flower at different times. Do you store your pollen in the freezer or the fridge?

I have noticed lately many of the species I have only one member of, have produced fruits this year. I have collected fruits from the following:

Mamm. cv. marnier
Mamm hahiana
Turbinicarpus lophophorides

To the best of my knowledge they are self sterile so one can only assume that there has been some cross pollination happening.

I store pollen in a fridge.