Protection of Sal Seeds in Storage against Moulds

Increasing use of sal seed oil in industry has necessitated prolonged storage of sal seeds after collection during seed fall which occurs during a short span of 4-6 weeks in June/July sal seeds in storage were found to be attacked by a mould fungus identified as Aspergillus niger Van Tieghem. The incidence of infection was assessed as 18-100 percent in seeds stored in different lots in Minor Forest Products Branch. In laboratory experiments, A. niger was found to attack sal seeds under atmospheric humidity of 95 and 81 percent while infection did not take place under atmospheric humidity of 75 percent and below when average moisture percent in seeds was 12.3 percent and less. In another experiment, 3cc of oil obtained from Eucalyptus hybrid leaves was found effective in checking infection by A. niger on seeds in app. 1000cc of space under ideal conditions of fungal growth. Sal seeds can thus be stored healthy for prolonged periods by reducing moisture contents in seeds to about 12 percent or by treatment of seeds with Eucalyptus hybrid oil when drying of seeds is not possible.