Seed Storage
Designing for Seed Storage
Cobeal's Cold Storage Rooms are designed for optimum seed storage conditions.
Seed Storage in Humid Climates
- Cold seed storage rooms located in tropical and sub-tropical environments have a higher risk for absorbing and retaining moisture, and may require additional insulation, inside and outside the building; as well as both floors and walls.
- Because warm air holds more moisture than cooler air, and because percent relative humidity is typically inversely related to temperature, very cold storage containers, like refrigerators, which have very high relative humidity, are not always the best option.
- Seeds are living organisms and will equilibrate to the ambient relative humidity even after being dried to an optimum 3-10% seed moisture content. Seeds stored in a vacuum-sealed container preserve better in cold storage containers, but the relative humidity conditions are not always optimal.
- Cold storage rooms should be placed in locations that maximize efficiency. In the Southern Hemisphere it is typically most efficient to build to the southeast side of an existing building. Incorporating shade trees near the building can also help moderate temperature. Avoid windows, because natural light encourages seeds to metabolize their nutrients in preparation for germination, reducing their storage shelf life.
Cobeal Cold Rooms for Seed Storage
- Cobeal Seed Storage Rooms offer a high volume solution that provides precisely controlled temperature and humidity using reliable, robust refrigeration systems for long-term performance.
- Our Seed Storage Rooms are based on a modular platform that can be custom-sized for specific applications. Long term seed storage conditions are typically set to -18ºC while medium term collections are stored at 4ºC and 30-50% RH.
- Due to the low temperature operation, a chemical dryer is used for dehumidification. Several different cooling methods are available and complete mechanical system redundancy can be provided for assurance of long-term stability.
Seed Storage ROoms
Seed Germination Chamber
For seed labs requiring a high throughput chamber for germination testing, the CG1000 chamber provides consistent, uniform conditions for a wide range of seed testing protocols.
With a temperature range from 4ºC to 40ºc, seeds can be pre-chilled to overcome dormancy. The CG1000 provides up to 98% relative humidity to ensure adequate moisture is available for germination, while horizontal airflow ensures uniformity throughout the growing area.
Externally-mounted fluorescent lights provide balanced intensities at all temperatures for consistent germination. Shelving is vertically adjustable to accommodate all germination methods including paper, soil, and containers. It's compact footprint - less than 1m2 (9.2ft2) - is ideal for labs where space is limited.
Incubation Chamber
For plant scientists who require low light and adjustable growth height for growing plantlets, the CA1000 offers an economical and flexible solution as an incubation chamber that can be reconfigured for other applications, including entomology research, tall and short plant growth, Arabidopsis, and tissue culture.
With a temperature range from 4ºC to 45ºC and humidity up to 90%, plantlets can be incubated under energy efficient fluorescent lighting on four adjustable shelves that provide up to 10" (250mm) of growth height. Air is delivered horizontally from the rear wall plenum to provide uniform environmental conditions to ensure consistent growth.
Additional Chamber Configurations
Key Product Specifications
Low Temperature Seed Storage
