Seed storage practices: How do they affect seed longevity?

Authors: Bernau, Vivian; Burke, Lisa; Kloppenborg, Torie; Pfiffner, Lisa; Millard, Mark; Peters, David

Submitted to: American Society of Agronomy Meetings
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/31/2022
Publication Date: 11/9/2022
Citation: Bernau, V.M., Burke, L.A., Kloppenborg, T.R., Pfiffner, L.A., Millard, M.J., Peters, D.W. 2022. Seed storage practices: How do they affect seed longevity? [abstract]. American Society of Agronomy Meetings. Paper No. 145575.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The USDA National Plant Germplasm System includes a collection of more than 20,000 accessions of cultivated temperate- and tropical-adapted maize and wild relatives from around the world. This collection is held at the North Central Regional Plant Introduction Station (NCRPIS) in Ames, Iowa. Each time a seed jar is removed from storage, the seeds must equilibrate to ambient temperature and relative humidity. Various practices have been adopted at the North Central Region Plant Introduction Station (NCRPIS) to reduce the number of times and the length of time seed jars are removed from cold storage. To test the efficacy of this system, seeds of 48 inventory lots were withdrawn from two different storage locations: 1) active distribution jar and 2) medium-term storage in a sealed bag (both at 4°C and 28% relative humidity. Germinations were performed in a high humidity germinator set at 12 hours 20°C in the dark alternating with 12 hours 30°C in the light. Four replications of 50 seeds were tested for each storage regime by accession combination. Evaluations were performed at seven and 10 days.