Electron treatment of seeds

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The electron treatment of seeds is a process without chemical agents , in which pathogens are killed without damaging the endosperm and embryo in the seed, whereby the germination capacity is retained. The procedure works against all pathogens that are in and on the seed coat. Not only are seed-borne pathogens killed, but sustainable protection also takes place by breaking the chain of infection by killing harmful microorganisms such as bacteria and viruses.

history

As early as the early 20th century, experiments on the protection and sterilization of products using electron beam treatment were carried out. This technology was investigated for the agricultural sector at the beginning of the 1980s in the former Manfred von Ardenne research institute in Dresden . The aim was to protect seeds from seed-borne pathogens, previously using mercury picklingrealized, with simultaneous environmental and user protection. Essentially, the development took place via the three types of systems “Elba” (test system in Weinböhla, 1983), “Wesenitz 1” (pilot system in Helmsdorf, 1995) and “Wesenitz 2” (mobile system, 1999). There are currently two systems for the electron treatment of seeds: The "Wesenitz 2" and the stationary further development "Stella" are operated by Ceravis AG in Güstrow (Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania).

literature

  • M. Jahn, O. Röder, J. Tigges: The electron treatment of cereal seeds - summarizing evaluation of the field results. Federal Biological Research Center for Agriculture and Forestry, Berlin, Braunschweig 2005
  • S. Schiller, S. Heisig, S. Panzer: electron beam technology , VEB Verlag Technik, Berlin 1976

Web links

  • Electron treatment of seeds. Information sheet from the Fraunhofer Institute for Organic Electronics, Electron Beam and Plasma Technology FEP , Dresden 2015 (PDF)