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Re: Seed Cleaning Tools and Techniques


-----Original Message-----
From: Richard Dufresne <salvia@nr.infi.net>
To: MEDIT-PLANTS@ucdavis.edu <MEDIT-PLANTS@ucdavis.edu>;
dmaroni@email.unc.edu <dmaroni@email.unc.edu>
Date: 06 Januari 1998 11:34
Subject: Seed Cleaning Tools and Techniques


>To Rob and all other seed cleaners:
>
>I've had a lot of experience with seed cleaning.  Here's a summary of tools
>and techniques that I've used.
>
>GENERAL TECHNIQUES
>
>Start off by using screens to remove the fines (mold spores, dirt, etc.)
and
>coarse chaff, then go to the specialized cleaning techniques.  Since I
>usually work with mint family plants, these techniques are most useful for
>round to oblong seeds.
>
>SEED SCREENS
>
>I started with a 16 x 16 screen from window screen, and a 40 x 40 screen
>from the brass hardware cloth supplied for use as a water filter at
hardware
>stores.  My frames were made from #1 1 x 4 pine cut to make a 12 x 12"
>frame.  I ripped off a 3/4" piece off the sides to make the trim that held
>the screen on the rest of the frame.
>
>Next, I invested in some inexpensive special size screens from Burrows
>Equipment Company.  I got sizes (10 x 10, 14 x 14, 24 x 24, 32 x 32) that
>were not available from common sources.  Made with stackable wood rims,
they
>cost $11 apiece in 1979.
>
>Later, I made 14 x 18, 18 x 18, 36 x 36, 42 x 42, 48 x 48, and 60 x 60
>screens from samples given to me from hardware cloth used in the factory
for
>dust control equipment.
>
>Gilson supplies lab screens, but these are expensive ($25 for 3" to $80 for
>12" apiece), depending on the diameter, depth, and construction (brass or
>stainless steel).   These are the screens one most often sees in academic
or
>industrial labs.
>
>AIR SEPARATOR TOWER
>
>Burrows also had a tower with air blown upwards through a sample with
>carefully controled air flow.  This would allow lighter chaff to be blown
>out first, leaving the usually heavier, viable seed at the bottom.  By
>slowly increasing the air flow, more of the chaff and lighter, immature
seed
>could be removed.
>
>Working such a tower is an art.  One needs to know how much material to
load
>into the tower, what air flow to use, and how many tower sections to add to
>get an effective separation.  It should be possible for a gifted handy man
>to make one starting with an old vacuum cleaner.  The process is similar to
>distillation of organic compounds using a fractionation column.
>
>TRAYS AND BOWLS
>
>Trays can be used to separate seed from chaff.  Much seed is denser and
>usually round or oblong.  By taking a beer flat or similarly sized plastic
>tray and laying down a half-inch wide row at one end and shaking the tray
>with a regular motion at just the right angle, one can induce the more
>desirable seed to separate first and roll to the bottom.  The intermediate
>material can be sent back to the top by lightly blowing on it for a second
>or third chance.  The art is in picking the right angle, motion, and load
>for the seed variety.
>
>A variation of this is swirling in a bowl.  With the right amount of seed,
>very often the best material will collect in the center, and the chaff on
>the outside.  It is important not to overload the bowl.  A deep stainless
>steel bowl (3" deep, 4" wide) works best for me.
>
>If you want to blow harder, you can remove the chaff entirely.  This is a
>messy but highly effective process.  One word of caution: you can blow some
>of the chaff into your eyes.  I once scratched my cornea pretty good doing
>this, so wear protective glasses.
>
>ELECTROSTATIC GUN
>
>Sometimes electrostatic forces will interfere with seed cleaning,
especially
>with small seed.  The way to remove this is to use an electrostatic field
>generator.  I have a Zerostat 3, made in England for Discwasher.  It
>produces a charge by squeezing a piezioelectric crystal.  One charge is
>produced by squeezing, and the opposite by releasing the trigger.  This
>should discharge the particles, allowing them to flow freely.  I got my gun
>at a stereo center or an electronics supply store.  It is designed to
remove
>dust from CDs and LPs.
>
>GERMINATION TEST PAPER
>
>Burrows also supplied Kimpak Germination Paper in boxes of 100 sheets
(about
>$18/box in1979) in various sizes.  The paper is sterile, has no injurious
>chemicals, and holds 16 times its weight of water, so it should be ideal
for
>Deno's method.  It works for both small and large seeds.
>
>ADDRESSES
>
>Burrows was with Soiltest, Inc., but was either spun off or disbanded.
>
>Gilson Company, Inc.
>800-444-1508
>P. O. Box 677
>Worthington, OH  43085-0677
>
>National Seed Storage Lab in Fort Collins, CO:
>
>http://checkers.nssl.colostate.edu/people/people.htm
>
>A list of scientists who specia;ize in seed research.
>
>MidWest Seed Germiation Service
>
>http://www.brookings.com/mwss/germ.htm
>
>A company that does seed testing.  They may be able to provide leads for
>sources.
>
>Hope this helps,
>
>Rich Dufresne
>
>
Hi,
After the cleaning what is the next step ?
What is the best way to dried and preserve the seeds ?
Thanks

Daniel S - Indonesia
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