Pollen longevity and viability dataset: an integrated resource for plant research and conservation

Pollen viability and longevity are key traits in plant reproduction, with implications for gene flow, crop breeding, and ex situ plant conservation. However, published data on these traits remain dispersed across disciplines, languages, and methods, limiting their accessibility and reuse. Here, we present a curated, taxonomically broad dataset compiling pollen viability over time for 274 vascular plant species extracted from 320 primary publications published between 1962 and 2023. The dataset includes germination- and staining-based viability estimates under defined storage conditions, along with metadata on species identity, experimental design, and pollen traits. To facilitate data exploration and application, the full dataset is openly available via an online repository and accompanied by an interactive Shiny App that allows users to filter, visualize, and download customized subsets. This resource provides a structured foundation for comparative analyses of pollen longevity and viability within well-represented clades and experimental contexts. It supports trait-based and applied research when combined with external data sources, while also serving as a starting point for future syntheses.