Unpacking of the consignment
On arrival, cloth bags are unpacked into plastic crates.
Seed collections arrive by courier from partner organisations across the world. They are unpacked immediately upon arrival. This is done within a clean (and relatively contained) area, in case live insects are present. Collections are checked for signs of damage (for instance damage caused by insects) and to assess whether immediate cleaning is required, as with wet fruits. The species' likely storage characteristics are decided by reference to the Seed Information Database. Those that might pose storage problems are removed from the batch at this stage for drying tests, to establish desiccation tolerance. Any seed-lot containing live insects is separated for further treatment, consisting of drying for one week in sealed cloth bags at -20°C, before processing as normal.
The Seed Conservation Department holds a special licence from the UK's plant health authorities to import and hold seeds and fruits that are controlled by law. Such collections are isolated and processed / banked according to special operating procedures agreed with the authorities.
The majority of collections are placed in the dry room immediately, provided they are in sealed cloth or non-waxy paper bags. Seeds arriving in plastic or foil are repacked accordingly prior to drying.
Herbarium specimens that accompany the seed material are also dealt with at this stage.
