A method for sorting pollen containing genetic elements of interest may include associating a genetic marker with seeds defining the genetic elements of interest, growing plants from the seeds, collecting pollen from the seeds, evaluating the pollen for presence of the genetic markers, and sorting the pollen based on presence or absence of the genetic markers. A method of determining viability of pollen may evaluate the optical density of grains of pollen and compare the optical density to an optical density threshold. Further, a method for identifying plants defining a genetic marker with seeds defining the genetic element of interest, growing plants from the seeds, and evaluating the plants for presence of the genetic marker. Additionally, a method for identifying a genotype of pollen may include evaluating pollen via spectral and/or hyperspectral imaging,
