New The Dry Chain Can Maintain Seed Quality in Humid Regions · 2018. 3. 22. · Luke Colavito. 5,...
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Harvest Dry Package Transport & Store Consume or use The Dry Chain Can Maintain Seed Quality in Humid Regions Peetambar Dahal 1 , Pedro Bello 1,2 ; Johan Van Asbrouck 2 , Keshavulu Kunusoth 3 , Indra Raj Pandey 4 , Luke Colavito 5 , Kent J. Bradford 1 1 University of California, Davis, USA; 2 Rhino Research, Phitchit, Thailand; 3 Acharya NG Ranga Agricultural University, Hyderabad, India; 4 CEAPRED, Nepal; 5 IDE, Nepal. This report is made possible by the generous support of the American people through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) under Award No. EPP-A-00-09-00004. The contents are the responsibility of the coauthors and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the United States Government. DRY COLD WARM WET BEST D R Y C H A I N GOOD In humid regions, the major factor contributing to loss of seed viability is lack of adequate drying. Seeds (and other dry commodities) must be dried soon after harvest to preserve quality. Once dry, they must be packaged to prevent reabsorption of water due to ambient high humidity. We have termed this the “DRY CHAIN” in analogy to the cold chain for fresh produce. However, once dry products are hermetically packaged, they do not need to be refrigerated and no further energy input is needed to maintain their quality during storage. POOR COLD CHAIN Bead stored Bag stored Drying seeds below 40% RH prevents damage from storage insects. Bead stored Bag stored 0 20 40 60 80 100 Cucumber Bean Okra Onion Viability % Initial 9 months -Bead 9 months -Bag Drying beads and hermetic storage maintained vegetable seed viability at multiple locations in Nepal. Drying beads are used by Dr. Budhathoki for drying and storage of hybrid tomato seed in Kathmandu, Nepal. Field trial following onion seed storage. Seeds are harvested at moisture contents that are too high for safe storage, so further drying is required before storage. Sun or air-drying is generally unable to dry seeds sufficiently in humid climates. Drying Beads (desiccant) can dry seeds to low moisture contents for safe storage. Simple, low-cost methods are available for monitoring seed RH. Dry seeds should be packaged in hermetic containers. Bead stored Bag stored
Transcript of New The Dry Chain Can Maintain Seed Quality in Humid Regions · 2018. 3. 22. · Luke Colavito. 5,...
Harvest
Dry
Package
Transport & Store
Consume or use
The Dry Chain Can Maintain Seed Quality
in Humid Regions Peetambar Dahal1, Pedro Bello1,2; Johan Van Asbrouck2, Keshavulu Kunusoth3, Indra Raj Pandey4, Luke Colavito5, Kent J. Bradford1
1University of California, Davis, USA; 2Rhino Research, Phitchit, Thailand; 3 Acharya NG Ranga Agricultural University, Hyderabad, India; 4CEAPRED, Nepal; 5IDE, Nepal.
This report is made possible by the generous support of the American people through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) under Award No. EPP-A-00-09-00004. The contents are the responsibility of the coauthors and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the United States Government.
DRY
COLD WARM
WET
BEST
DRY
CHA I N
GOOD
In humid regions, the major factor contributing to loss of seed viability is lack of adequate drying. Seeds (and other dry commodities) must be dried soon after harvest to preserve quality. Once dry, they must be packaged to prevent reabsorption of water due to ambient high humidity. We have termed this the “DRY CHAIN” in analogy to the cold chain for fresh produce. However, once dry products are hermetically packaged, they do not need to be refrigerated and no further energy input is needed to maintain their quality during storage.
POOR COLD CHAIN
Bead stored
Bag stored
Drying seeds below 40% RH prevents damage from storage insects.
Bead stored
Bag stored
0
20
40
60
80
100
Cucumber Bean Okra Onion
Viab
ility
%
Initial 9 months -Bead 9 months -Bag Drying beads and hermetic storage maintained vegetable seed viability at multiple locations in Nepal.
Drying beads are used by Dr. Budhathoki for drying and storage of hybrid tomato seed in Kathmandu, Nepal.
Field trial following onion seed storage.
Seeds are harvested at moisture contents that are too high for safe storage, so further drying is required before storage.
Sun or air-drying is generally unable to dry seeds sufficiently in humid climates.
Drying Beads (desiccant) can dry seeds to low moisture contents for safe storage.
Simple, low-cost methods are available for monitoring seed RH.
Dry seeds should be packaged in hermetic containers.
Bead stored
Bag stored
