ABSTRACT
This chapter considers some of the operational aspects of the scheme, which is described elsewhere in this Symposium. The preceding scheme aims initially to produce high quality seed of sufficient quantity for conservation and immediate use such that the need for regeneration is reduced to a minimum. Seed collections are invariably made in July or August and germination and subsequent growth occurs in September through to November. Practically, however, this would result in the seed yield of the island being governed by the lowest yielding genotype, and often insufficient seed would be available for evaluation. Regeneration from plant collections is necessary to provide stock seed for initial evaluation and for supplying breeders and research workers and basic seed for long-term conservation. Hand-sieving and mechanical blowing provide a clean, high quality seed sample. The bulk seed is then transferred to drying cabinets where the seed is dried passively over silica gel to 5 – 7% moisture.
