Seed Storage and Packaging

Abstract

Abstract Storage is an essential component of seed programmes, which primarily aims at maintaining the high-quality standards of the seed from harvest till the time of sowing the crop in the next or successive seasons. In addition to this, seeds are also stored for longer durations to maintain stocks for seed trade at national and international levels as per market demands and as a buffer against crop failures in times of natural calamities or other exigencies, to maintain seeds of the parental lines for hybrid seed production in one or more seasons, to conserve active genetic stocks for breeding purposes, and to maintain germplasm for long term use. Seeds of most of the agriculturally important species are categorised as orthodox or desiccation-tolerant. Their longevity increases with decrease in storage temperature and the relative humidity of the storage environment (or seed moisture content). However, notwithstanding the constitutional differences among plant species concerning seed longevity, being a living entity, every seed undergoes deteriorative changes during storage, even in dry stores, primarily in terms of germination and vigour due to physiological deterioration, and changes brought by the presence of the pests and pathogens. A good seed programme aims at maintaining the high planting value of the seed in terms of purity, germination, vigour, and seed health during storage by taking care in seed handling, controlling the temperature and relative humidity of the store (or seed moisture in case of hermetically sealed containers), and following good sanitation practices. Considering that the facilities for conditioned storage may not be accessible and affordable in many situations, alternative solutions may be considered, especially for on-farm seed storage.