RNGR.net is sponsored by the USDA Forest Service and Southern Regional Extension Forestry and is a colloborative effort between these two agencies.

U.S. Department of Agriculture USDA Forest Service Southern Regional Extension Forestry Southern Regional Extension Forestry

Skip to content. | Skip to navigation

Home → Publications → Woody Plant Seed Manual → Chapter 4 - Storage of Seeds

Chapter 4 - Storage of Seeds

In the simplest form of seed storage, mature seeds are held for a short period until weather or other factors permit sowing or planting. In the more comprehensive view, there are at least 3 objectives for storing seeds, and each of them dictates different strategies and procedures. These objectives may be described as storage for the following periods: 1. Very short periods (overwinter) between collection and sowing 2. Several years (10 or less) to ensure a reliable supply of seeds in the absence of annual crops 3. Long periods (10 to 50+ years) for germplasm conservation The strategies employed will depend on all of the factors that influence seed longevity. Some of these factors have been discussed in chapter 1, but now they will be explored in the context of seed storage only. Following this, recommendations will be made for storage procedures to achieve the objectives listed here.


Download this file:

PDF document Download this file — PDF document, 3533Kb

Details

Publication: Woody Plant Seed Manual