Topic:

Measures to reduce seed quality during

seed storage

Name: Anam Riaz

Registration No: 2018-ag-5425
Degree: Ph.D. Botany
Semester: 1 st
Submitted to: Dr. Imran Khan

University of Agriculture,
Faisalabad
Present situation:
 Between 25-50% of the total grain value (quantity+ quality) is lost
between harvest and consumption in developing countries.
Quantity Losses in Post-harvest stage
Reasons for post-harvest losses

 Poor product coming into storage

 Poor storage management
 Poor quality paddy and poor milling techniques
 Seed Deterioration

 Seeds lose half their storage life for every 1% increase in seed moisture
between 5 and 14%.
 Seeds lose half their storage life for every 5 degrees C increase in storage
temperature between 0 and 50 C.
Principles of seed storage

 In the natural environment and when stored at ambient room

conditions, seeds respond to constantly changing relative humidity
and temperatures
 Maintaining seeds under controlled conditions lowers metabolic
activity, thereby reducing the aging process and increasing longevity
of the seed lot.
 For most seeds, a cool and dry environment is preferred and for
orthodox seeds the cooler and drier the environment, the greater the
longevity that can be achieved.
The five most important factors affecting seed
longevity are:

 Seed type
 Seed quality
 Integrity of the protective seed coat
 Seed moisture content
 Storage environment
 Seeds are generally categorized into the following types

 Orthodox: Seeds that can be dried, without damage, to low moisture contents,
usually much lower than those they would normally achieve in nature. Also called
long-lived seeds. Tolerate desiccation (no loss in viability) to 5% moisture content
or below. Ex: Rice, Maize, etc.
 Intermediate: These seeds can also be stored for a longer period, but it cannot
withstand low temperatures, and they generally lose viability more rapidly at low
temperatures. Tolerate desiccation to about 10–12% moisture content. Ex:
Legumes, papaya, citrus.
 Recalcitrant: Seeds that do not survive drying to any large degree, and are thus not
amenable to long-term storage. Killed by desiccation to 15–20% moisture content.
Ex: Mango, Jack, etc.
 GUIDELINES FOR SUCCESSFUL SEED
STORAGE
 Determine whether the seeds can be stored. (Not all seeds can
be stored successfully.)
 Collect healthy, ripe seeds.
 Separate and clean the seeds.
 Dry the seeds to the correct moisture level for storage.
Meanwhile, germinate some of the seeds to make sure that
they are good. Pack the seeds for storage.
 Store the seeds.
 If you store the seeds for a long time, germinate a sample from
time to time to make sure that they are still good.
Maintenance during seed storage

1. Store only new, mature, healthy, and well-dried seeds.

2. Keep them in a dry and cool place to extend their viability.
3. Seeds easily re-absorb moisture. ...
4. Put in some moisture-absorbing material. ...
5. Label the containers with the type of seed, place, and date of
collection.
Germination mechanism

 Imbibed water stimulates Gibberellin synthesis. 2-3.

 Gibberellins diffuse to the aleurone layer and stimulate the synthesis
of enzymes.
 4-5. Enzymes break down the starch and the sugars are transported
to the developing embryo.
Protect the Seeds

 Bacteria, fungi, mites, insects, rodents, and birds may affect the
seeds in storage.
 Bacteria do not show any significant effect on the stored seeds,
since it needs water for their proliferation.
 Storage fungi like Aspergillus and Penicillium infect the seeds and
produce mycotoxins that will deteriorate the seed quality.
 Insects and mites cause severe damage, especially in warm and
humid conditions.
 Birds and rodents cause a huge loss of seeds during the storage
period.
The general RH and temperature for the
multiplication of various biological organisms in
seed storage are as follows:
 Organism Optimum temperature (0c) Relative humidity (%) Insects
27-37 30-95 Mites 19-31 60-100 Fungi 20-40 60-100 Microbes 26-
28 91-100
 Natural Products Used in Storage Pest Control:

 Neem products in pest control

 Take the required amount of neem and Pongamia leaves and shade dry it
till it becomes papery. Seeds are filled up to ¾th of a storage bin and
covered with a clean cloth. Mix the above leaves and spread a handful on
the surface of the seeds in the storage bag or bin.
 Neem oil can be mixed with the seeds at the rate of 2% by the weight of the
seed. Using oil is more effective than the leaves.
 Seeds can be stored by mixing with Neem oil (2-3 ml/kg of seed). 50 kg
gunny bags of any seeds need 150 ml of the oil for mixing.
 Other plant products in pest control

 Mix the seeds of Maize, Wheat, etc., with dried fruits and leaves of
Vantulsi (wild Tulsi - Ocimum) at a ratio of 1:100 to prevent the weevils in
storage.
 Mix black gram seeds with mustard oil @ 10-15 ml per kg of seeds and
store it in earthen pots covered with a dry cloth.
 Wood ash in storage pest control
 Wood ash is a safe and effective pest control material. Mix equal
quantities of seed and wood ash to prevent the attack of beetles and other
storage pests.
The use of fumigants
 Fumigants are toxic gases used to disinfest a commodity in an
enclosure that, ideally, is completely gaslighted.
 Fumigation enclosures should certainly be sufficiently gaslight for
the gas to penetrate and remain in the commodity for long enough to
kill all stages of the insects present in or amongst the grains.
 The purpose of fumigation is to obtain a more-or-less immediate
disinfestation of the commodity and the space enclosing it.
Ex: Phosphine and methyl. bromide
RODENT CONTROL
 Rats eat food grains and seeds that are stored in the house and also
in the storage godown. They shed droppings on the grain while they
are eating it and can also spread diseases like plague, rat fever, etc.,
in human beings which are quite dangerous.
 Physical Methods:
 1) Rat proofing: The rat problem can be solved to a great extent if
the entry of rats is prevented in houses, stores, and godowns. This
can be done by building rat-proof godowns.
 2) Mechanical traps: In case of storage godown wooden cages or
mice cages can be used for the control of rats. Bait is used in the
trap to attract the rat to come into the trap. Bait may be any food
like pieces of meat, dried fish, bread, etc., that rats like to eat.
Attack by microorganisms and their control
 Various microorganisms affect stored grains such as fungi, bacteria, yeast,
actinomycetes, and protozoa. Out of all these microorganisms fungi is
responsible for the maximum damage/spoilage of seeds in storage.
 When a fungus is present, it causes off odor, kernel discoloration, loss of
nutritive value, and loss of viability. Fungi may also produce certain
poisonous substances which are harmful and may be fatal to human
beings, animals, poultry, etc.
 Control measures the Moisture content of the seed/grain should be
reduced to a safe level. The safe level of moisture content for wheat and
rice is 12% and 13% respectively.
 Reduction of temperature to a range of 23oC – 30oC helps in the
reduction of storage fungal growth.
What is required for a good storage system?

 Prevention of moisture re-entering the grain after drying

 Protection from insects, rodents, and birds
 Ease of loading and unloading.
 Efficient use of space
 Ease of maintenance and management.
 Temperature, Moisture content, and Environmental conditions
Continue...

 Relative Humidity and temperature are the most important

factors determining the storage life of seeds. Seeds attain a specific
and characteristic moisture content when subjected to given levels
of atmospheric humidity. This characteristic moisture content is
called equilibrium moisture content.