Herbaceous plant seed collection and preservation methods
If you want to know about the introduction of herbaceous flowers, as well as the collection and preservation methods of herbaceous plant seeds, let's take a look together.
I. Post-harvest processing
1. Clean and select the seeds of flowers thoroughly. After harvesting, the seeds need to be cleaned. The whole plant should be dried and threshed, and the seeds collected with the fruit should have the peel, flesh, and other attachments removed. Flower seeds are small and lightweight, some with pubescence or short spines on the seed coat, easily adhering to or mixing with living impurities like sclerotia, galls, insect eggs, and weed seeds, as well as non-living impurities like leaves, sand, etc.
2. Proper drying. After harvesting, herbaceous flower seeds that need to be dried should be dried with the fruit shell. Do not place the seeds on concrete drying fields or in metal containers under direct sunlight, as this will affect the vitality of the seeds. Seeds can be dried on canvas,苇席, or bamboo mats. For seeds that are sensitive to light, natural air-drying can be used, which involves placing the seeds in a well-ventilated, rain-proof room to dry naturally. The safe moisture content for most herbaceous flower seeds is 7% or less.
II. Key points of storage technology
1. Choose the correct packaging method. Since flower seeds are usually in small quantities, have a short lifespan, and are expensive, most of the time, polyethylene aluminum foil composite film bags are used, with paper seed bags as the outer layer. Aromatic oil-containing flower seeds should be stored in metal cans, wooden boxes, or colored glass bottles. Vacuum or semi-vacuum conditions can be created when sealing cans or aluminum foil bags to reduce the amount of oxygen in the container. The seed bags should be correctly labeled with the seed name, date of harvest (year, month, day), and shelf life.
2. Low-temperature and moisture-proof storage. Seeds that have been cleaned, dried to a safe moisture content, and packaged in aluminum foil bags or metal cans should be stored in dry, sealed, and low-temperature (2-5°C) conditions. Seed bags or cans should be placed on a shelf or platform about 50 cm above the ground to prevent moisture absorption. A small amount of seeds can be stored in a desiccator. The desiccator can be made of a glass bottle, a small-mouthed jar with a lid, a plastic bucket, etc., with quicklime, silica gel, dry plant ash, or charcoal placed at the bottom as desiccants, and the seed bags placed on top, then sealed and placed in a low-temperature and dry place.
III. Lifespan of herbaceous flower seeds
Seeds are living organisms, and the strength of their vitality and the length of their lifespan are closely related to the storage conditions. Seeds in warm, humid, and well-ventilated conditions have intense life activities, quickly consume nutrients, and have a short lifespan. Seeds that have lost their viability cannot be used for seeding and seedling raising. Seeds in low-temperature, dry, and poorly ventilated conditions have slow life activities and can have a relatively extended lifespan. Therefore, 1-2-year-old herbaceous flower seeds should be stored in low-temperature, dry, and sealed conditions. Seeds with a storage period of 1 year include福禄考, Kochia scoparia, and Primula; seeds with a storage period of 2-3 years include醉蝶花, Calendula, Viola tricolor, Marigold, Verbena, Chrysanthemum, Dendranthema, Tropaeolum, Sweet Peas, Poppies,醉蝶花, Salvia splendens, Strawflower, Snapdragon, and Cornflower; seeds with a storage period of 4-5 years include Poppies, Portulaca grandiflora, Zinnia, Sweet Alyssum, Coreopsis, Stock,矮牵牛, Celosia, Amaranthus tricolor, and Marigold.
IV. Management measures for flower seed storage
1. Clean and disinfect the warehouse. Remove garbage, fertilizers, and pesticides from the warehouse, and lay down oilcloth paper as a moisture-proof layer to reduce the absorption of ground moisture by the seeds. Spray with 80% dichlorvos emulsion, then close the doors and windows for 48-72 hours before ventilating for 24 hours. Do not use smoke to fumigate the warehouse.
2. Proper stacking. Flower seeds come in many varieties and grades, but the quantity is usually not large. In the warehouse, they should be placed on a shelf or platform about 50 cm from the wall and 50 cm from the ground, with labels indicating their location, quantity, and packaging to prevent mixing.
3. Timely ventilation. Seed respiration produces heat, and timely ventilation can lower the temperature and dissipate moisture. The principle is usually "ventilate on sunny days, close on rainy days, do not ventilate on snowy days, ventilate when water droplets freeze, open early and late, less during the day, and do not open at night when there is fog."
4. Regular inspection. The warehouse should be inspected promptly, and the moisture content and germination rate of the seeds should be tested after the seeds have survived the summer or winter. Place temperature and humidity meters at multiple points in the warehouse, assign personnel to measure at regular intervals, and keep records. It is essential to maintain a low-temperature and low-humidity environment for the storage of flower seeds to prevent mold or a decrease in germination rate.
The specific content shared above on the collection and preservation methods of herbaceous plant seeds is prohibited from being copied without permission!