ASK
erik
Do you have a question for Erik? Forward it to [email protected] with the words
“Ask Erik” in the subject line, and your answer will be printed in an upcoming edition.
I am searching for information about frozen maize pollen. I want to use it to make some
crosses, as sometimes we have a very late female or male. To make some crosses, it is very
difficult but with frozen pollen, it is very easy. However, I don’t know if it’s possible to do it.
Cheers
Franck
Franck,
Most types of plants can be pollinated using pollen from
a frozen state, provided it has been stored under favorable
conditions.
When pollination begins in your outside corn crop, collect
the pollen when conditions are dry, and preferably at times
when there is lower light intensity. Moisture from relative
humidity in storage or during collection can quickly
diminish the viability of pollen collected; moisture is
probably pollen’s worst enemy.
Collect pollen into sterile and dry vessels. When there is
little breeze prevalent, you can shake the pollen onto a white
sheet of paper, helping to reduce the collection of other
plant particulates and materials which could potentially
contaminate the stored pollen.
Some breeders prefer to dry their pollen slightly, to remove
any moisture that might be present before setting into storage
containers. Do not expose pollen to direct sunlight for
prolonged periods, or the UV may render the pollen infertile.
The containers you store your pollen in should be airtight, and preferably opaque.You can add a small piece of
paper towel and/or desiccant (such as silica) to the vessel
to help keep moisture from condensing onto the pollen. A
small dose of CO2 gas into storage containers will further
help to protect viability.
Store your pollen containers in a freezer that will not
cease cycling until it is time to use the pollen for your
breeding program. If the pollen thaws and is re-frozen it
may lose viability.
When it becomes time to disperse the pollen collected
onto your select plants, you will need to cut of the
stamen as they appear on the corn plant to be pollinated,
as obviously, it would pollinate itself. The stamen are the
male reproductive organs that typically appear on the
tops of corn plants that release pollen to the silks below,
emerging from each of the developing ears.
Make sure you remove the stamen before they start to
disperse pollen, otherwise it will be difficult to tell which
plant was the “father.” Liberally shake your stored pollen
over the corn plant, paying special attention to the silks. For
16
MAXIMUM YIELD USA - June 2009
every silk hair that does not receive viable pollen, you will
see a gap in the formation of the kernels. Each silk leads to its
own kernel. In theory, this makes it possible to develop more
than one type of seed on the same ear.
I hope this helps with the endeavor, and please be sure to
let us all know how it works out for you and the breeding
program.
Highest Regards, Erik Biksa
MY