US 7,748,163 B2 · Method for treating seeds, and seeds obtainable with the method

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for treating seeds, comprising the following steps: (a) a sterilization step wherein, for 0.1 to 60 seconds and at a minimum pressure of 0.5 bar absolute, the seeds are contacted with a condensing medium having a condensation temperature of 80-200 DEG C, wherein the medium condenses on the seeds and the temperature of the surface of the seeds is raised to 200 DEG C at most; and (b) a cooling step wherein the sterilized seeds obtained in step (a) are cooled, wherein the temperature of the surface of the seeds is lowered, within 30 seconds at most, to 50 DEG C at most, and wherein the conditions of steps (a) and (b) are set such that the germination capacity of the seeds is relatively preserved or increases. The invention further relates to seeds obtainable with the method according to the invention.

Claims10

Dependent claims

A method for treating seeds having an initial temperature in the range of from −30 to 30° C. at the moment they are subjected to sterilization, comprising the following steps:

(a) contacting the seeds with steam for 0.1 to 5 seconds and at a minimum pressure of 0.5 bar absolute, wherein the steam condenses on the seeds and the temperature of the surfaces of the seeds is raised to 200° C. at most;
and
(b) cooling the sterilized seeds obtained in step (a), wherein the temperature of the surface is lowered, within 10 seconds to 30° C. at most, and
wherein the conditions of steps (a) and (b) are set such that the germination capacity of the seeds is relatively preserved or increases wherein, in step (a), the surface of the seeds reaches a temperature of 80-150° C., before the seeds are subjected to step (b).

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method for treating seeds, and seeds obtainable with the method

Life of this patent

Method for treating seeds, and seeds obtainable with the method

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims10