METHOD FOR STERILIZATION OF PLANT SEED AND APPARATUS THEREFOR

摘要

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To surely and safely sterilize plant pathogens and putrefactive bacteria attached to plant seeds. SOLUTION: Seeds 14 are put into a pressure vessel 1 filled with water and a pressurizing piston 9 is pushed up with a hydraulic oil of a hydraulic pump 10 to raise the water pressure in the pressure vessel 1 and apply water pressure to the seeds 14 for a prescribed period. The plant pathogens and putrefactive bacteria attached to the plant seed are sterilized including those existing under the seed skin without causing the lowering of the germinability by setting the water pressure to a level suiting the species of the pathogen, etc. There is no adverse effect on the human body and the environment since chemicals such as sterilizing agent are not remained on the seed.