Seed Disinfection for Pure Culture Work: The Use of Hypochlorites

Abstract

INTRODUCTORY For a long time it has been clear that much light may be thrown on many fundamental problems in seed plant nutrition as well as in physiological pathology through the use of pure cultures of certain seed plants. In those cases where the seed are produced in pods, solid fruits, or within other thoroughly protective coverings, it is, as a rule, a relatively simple matter to secure seed in season entirely free from contamination. It is only necessary to employ the usual bacteriological precautions, opening the maturing pods or fruits with care and removing the seed to sterile containers, in which they may be kept until required. Beans, peas, radishes, tobacco, tomatoes, and various cucurbits or melons are among those plants easily handled in this way. The difficulty, however, even with these seed, lies in anticipating what may be needed out of season. With the majority of seed, moreover, it would not be practicable to use the isolation method either because of structural difficulties or of inaccessibility of fruiting plants. TThe experiments of Wilson' on the use of commercial chloride of lime (in part calcium hypochlorite) have been the first definite application of the value of this well-known disinfecting agent to plant physiological study with seed plants. In the disinfection and antiseptic treatment of wounds, extensive studies have been made during this war with the use of hypochlorous acid, the hypochlorites, and related compounds, as a result especially of the investigations of Dakin2