Research - Posters Poster - Stable Temperature & Vacuum for Extending the Life of Stored Sorghum Bicolor Seed, a Model for Neglected Species

Community seed banks are an important mechanism for making seeds of often-forgotten grains like sorghum accessible to farmers. Best practices for storing orthodox seed, those like sorghum that tolerate drying for prolonged storage, include maintaining low moisture and temperature. Trail et al (2021) demonstrated the potential of low-cost desiccants and vacuum for keeping seeds dry, but little has been done to validate accompanying technologies such as earthen or underground storage structures for minimizing temperature fluctuation. This 6-month experiment was conducted to assess the
importance of stable temperature, with and without vacuum, while also keeping seeds dry.

T. N Motis and A.J. Bicksler

ECHO Inc.