Measuring seed moisture in Malawi

Constructing lithium chloride series at FRIM.

In Malawi, the National Tree Seed Centre (NTSC) at the Forestry Research Institute of Malawi (FRIM) and the National Plant Genetic Resources Centre (NPGRC) have been supplied with new equipment from the MSBP and have received technical training in its use.

Keith Manger, laboratory manager at MSBP, visited Malawi to assess the facilities at FRIM. He suggested that an existing cold store could be converted to a dry room, by adding a de-humidifying unit. Containers for seed storage were purchased locally and tested for their hermetic sealing properties. Foil bags were chosen for long-term conservation collections and plastic drums with tightly fitting lids for tree seed collections.

Frank Kambady at NPGRC.

Maganizo Namoto, laboratory manager at FRIM, was trained in the use of relative humidity testing equipment to measure seed moisture status. Lithium chloride was also provided in order to set up a simple isotherm series to calibrate the equipment. A data logger was supplied to log relative humidity within drying collections, or to monitor ambient humidity in the dry room.

At NPGRC, seeds were previously dried in the shade, then suspended in cloth bags in drums of silica gel for final drying. Two incubator-driers have now been supplied and subsequently repaired by the MSBP. The MSBP provided NPGRC with a digital humidity sensor and trained staff how to use it to ensure that seeds are fully dry before storage.