Fleshy Seed Storage
Do you know these? Let's learn about the planting content of fleshy plants, fleshy seed storage, and more.
When it comes to fleshy seed storage, the conventional method is to place them in centrifuge tubes and then store them in the refrigerator. Although it seems like a simple task, there may be different opinions. This article shares the experience of storing fleshy seeds in the refrigerator by flower enthusiasts, as well as some popular science knowledge, which is very worth reading.
Many people emphasize that seeds need a lot of space to breathe, or the seeds will...
However, that's not the case. I previously stocked up on mixed stoneflower seeds, but there were no small plastic centrifuge tubes (commonly known as "seed bottles") at home. So, I filled the seeds in the centrifuge tube almost to the brim, with only about two millimeters from the bottom of the cap, and then stored them in the refrigerator. Imagine that there was a lot of air in the small space on the back of the cap. I stored them like this for a few months and sold them at a low price when I was short of money (sold the seeds at half the price, and now I regret it). Buyers who sowed the seeds said that the germination rate was almost 100% (similar to the germination rate of seeds I sowed a few months ago).
I estimate that some people are now bombarding me with various theories about seeds needing a lot of space to breathe. I can only say that you are all copying what you read online, which is about crop seeds and so on. 【Large seed embryos have strong respiratory activity; small seed embryos have weak respiratory activity. Strong respiratory activity consumes more nutrients, while weak respiratory activity consumes less nutrients.】 The seed embryos of Crassulaceae, Aizoaceae, Liliaceae, and most Cactaceae are very small. The respiratory activity is not as extreme as you think. The reason I was able to store those mixed stoneflower seeds for months was primarily due to the small space storing air (the space between seeds is secondary), and it was air, not oxygen. The oxygen content in the air is about 21%. Think about the amount of oxygen.
Of course, as I mentioned earlier, if you're not planning to sow the seeds in the short term, it's best to store them in the refrigerator. 【High temperature increases seed respiratory activity; low temperature decreases seed respiratory activity. Strong respiratory activity consumes more nutrients, while weak respiratory activity consumes less nutrients.】 The recommended storage temperature by the楼主 is 0-6℃.
Let's also talk about seed moisture content, which should not be too low or too high. If it's too low, the cells in the seeds will dehydrate and die, and I don't need to explain the consequences of too high moisture. "Seed moisture content should not be too low or too high" is also scientifically based. 【High seed moisture content leads to more active metabolism and faster nutrient consumption during storage; low seed moisture content leads to slower metabolism and slower nutrient consumption.】 Seed temperature usually changes with the external environment, and if not properly sealed, seed moisture content will balance with environmental humidity. Regarding the source of desiccants, many flower enthusiasts like to use desiccants from food and pharmaceutical products and place them in seed storage containers. So, can these desiccants be used?
Answer: Only processed silica gel desiccants, fiber desiccants, and calcium chloride desiccants should not be used.
Desiccants have an expiration date. Before opening food and pharmaceutical products, they have a shelf life of about one to two years, but once opened, they will continuously absorb moisture from the outside air. If they absorb a lot of moisture and are reused, it may backfire and increase humidity.
I recommend using silica gel desiccants, which are the only desiccants recognized and approved by the European Union and the U.S. FDA. They are also affordable. They can reduce environmental humidity by about 40%. A pack of 1000 can be shipped for about ten yuan, and you can also choose fiber desiccants or calcium chloride desiccants.
Of course, it's not that small spaces are the best; I'm just saying that the space doesn't need to be as large as you imagine. The arrangement of free space should be reasonable. It is recommended to store in the refrigerator because high temperatures increase respiratory activity, which consumes seed nutrients.
This article shares all the content about fleshy seed storage for your comprehensive understanding and reference!