GERMPLASM COLLECTION AND STORAGE SYSTEM IN THE FORM OF SEEDS OF PLANTS FROM ARID AREAS SUCH AS CACTI, CAUDEX AND SUCCULENTS

The Cactus and Succulent Seed Collection System consists of 5 elements:

1. Heavy duty metal holder for 50ml conical tubes. Its functional and practical design allows the user to keep both hands free to efficiently collect plant samples, seeds, etc. at the same time stopping the tube cover at the base of the support.

2. Fine-fit collection funnel for 50 ml conical tubes. This funnel is securely fixed at the entrance of conical polypropylene tubes with a capacity of 50 ml, facilitating the collection of whole fruits and seeds, avoiding loss of germplasm.

3. D40 flexible polyurethane foam disc, allows transpiration from the germplasm, subsequently retaining moisture in the silica gel spheres, they are extracted using a high quality black nylon retainer, anti-wear and anti-corrosion, which does not break or crack during use.

4. Silver nanoparticles supported on the polyurethane foam disc. The antimicrobial activity of silver nanoparticles has been widely documented in recent years and they have shown high activity to destroy microorganisms and delay their proliferation, which is why they have been used as a protective coating on various types of materials. Using green chemistry techniques, we have developed a method to synthesize this type of silver nanomaterial with the purpose of exercising its protective activity in the field of germplasm storage. For this, the silver nanoparticles are immobilized in polyurethane disks. These polyurethane discs supported with silver nanoparticles with an average size of 30 nm promote fungistatic and fungicidal activity, destroying the membrane of phytopathogenic fungi and at the same time stopping their growth on the collected seeds and fruits, promoting better storage of the germplasm.

5. Silica gel spheres with indicator as a dehumidifying agent. These desiccant spheres have a diameter of 3-5 mm and are composed of silica gel with a moisture saturation indicator (gentian violet base). This silica gel is a granular and porous form of silicon dioxide manufactured synthetically from sodium silicate. After a while, the silica gel changes from orange to dark green, indicating that it is saturated with moisture. This change in color indicates that the spheres have carried out their protective hygroscopic activity on the cactus and succulent seeds contained in the polypropylene tubes by reducing the humidity available in moist fruits and remains of plant tissues, minimizing the growth of phytopathogenic fungi that could damage stored germplasm.

Individual components of the cactus and succulent seed collection system

The successful production of plants from arid areas such as cacti and succulents begins with a correct collection and storage of quality germplasm that allows the generation of healthy and vigorous plants, therefore, this system is designed so that anyone who performs this activity can carry out this first production phase in a professional manner.

The cactus and succulent seed collection system is designed to conveniently and efficiently collect the fruits and seeds of this type of plants, in addition to allowing their temporary storage by reducing the moisture content to the maximum and promoting antimicrobial activity to reduce the development of phytopathogenic fungi and bacteria that could damage the stored germplasm.