Storage of seeds

Storage of seeds is essential to meet the demands of seeds having right physiological and genetic characteristics during all the time.The objective of the proper storage is to maintain the viability of seeds for longer period. It helps to maintain the longevity as well. Several Species  Leguminosae and Malvaceae families have high longevity.

The methods of control of oxygen, moisture content and temperature that reduces the rate of respiration without otherwise damaging  the seed is likely to be effective in extending the longevity during storage. Seeds stored under good conditions and which have maintained higher germinative capacity can safely be used but it is not good to use seed lot in which the germinative capacity has been severely curtailed. Insects has also to be taken care of. Suitable insecticides regularly has to be used to avoid any insect damage. Cold storage facility also provide longevity. Silica gel is used to keep moisture content of 7 to 9 percent  in impermeable containers .

Seed Processing of Forest Trees

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 The objective of Seed Processing is to produce good quality seeds for sowing. The Processes are Pre-cleaning, Pre-curing, Cleaning.

Pre-cleaning involves cleaning of twigs, barks, leaf litter and other impurities before they are sent for extraction. It can be done by hand and by flotation and fruits be separated by blowing and winnowing.

Pre-curing involves the deliberate storage for ripening of seeds and slow air drying of seeds/fruits.

Cleaning of sound seeds from impurities can be done by screening and sieving,sorting,winnowing,flotation. Screening and sieving remove almost all impurities which have different size than the hole in sieve or screen. Sorting according to length may remove longer and shorter impurities. Cleaning by winnowing is a common practice.Likewise, Flotation method can be used to separate out impurities having different specific gravity than that of seed.

Seed Collection of tree species

Seed collection is very important part of the plantation project or to fulfill the objective of afforestation and reforestation.

The seeds should be collected from the selected tree following different guidelines. The seeds should be collected from healthy vigorous trees of reasonably good form that are making more than the average growth.The seeds produced by immature and mature trees are sometimes infertile so middle aged trees has to be chosen for collection.Poorly deformed, diseased, abnormal, insect infested trees has to be avoided. The seedlings that are produced from the isolated trees of naturally cross- pollinating species,( are likely to be self pollinated ) are weak or malformed and seeds few with low viability. Dominant and Co-dominant trees are mostly chosen and vigorous wolf-trees are also avoided.

Bamboo and Rattans

BAMBOOS are tall, perennial, arborescent grasses, belonging to Poaceae family. There are 50 genera and approximately 1326 species generally inhibiting the humid tropical, sub-tropical and mild temperate regions of the world. It is found  in over 18 million hectares of land, of which 75% lies only in Asia.The rhizomes of the Bamboo may be short and thick and clustered together and produce Bamboo in well defined clumps. Mature Bamboo clumps produced new shoots every year throughout the rainy season. The shoots develop then rapidly within 2-3 months and reach their full height and diameter.

RATTANS belong to the family Palmae/Arecaceae. 600 species of Rattans belonging to 13 genera are reported to be distributed worldwide concentrated in Africa and South East Asia.Rattan is an ideal raw material for cottage industries. Its industrial use is in furniture, walking sticks, polo sticks, umbrella handles, basket making, mats, ropes, and various other articles.