Problems Saving Seeds

I pollinated one of my favorite plants to collect some extra seeds for later propagation. The problem I'm having is that 90% of the seeds are cracked along the side. What would cause this? I'm growing in an aquaponic DWC setup with airstones in each bucket

Excess moisture can cause beans to split. Not sure actually, kind of wierd.

If they split they have broken dormancy and may not be viable beyond the immediate future.

I store seeds in fridge with a handfull of uncooked rice as a dessicant and have close to 100% germ at 5 years.

Interesting..

AimAim said:

Excess moisture can cause beans to split. Not sure actually, kind of wierd.

If they split they have broken dormancy and may not be viable beyond the immediate future.

I store seeds in fridge with a handfull of uncooked rice as a dessicant and have close to 100% germ at 5 years.

Click to expand...

I tend to skip the rice as the fridge tends to remove moisture from the interior but, yuppers!

Roy Jenkins said:

I pollinated one of my favorite plants to collect some extra seeds for later propagation. The problem I'm having is that 90% of the seeds are cracked along the side. What would cause this? I'm growing in an aquaponic DWC setup with airstones in each bucket

Click to expand...

I have to ask this.....Whats your RH set at? At night it does what? How old was the plant at harvest? Did you go long?

I mean, I'm with AIM on this one - kinda weird! Has to be in my mind, some sort of up-take overage. I don't see them popping on the plant...

Dr. Who:
I fight RH quite a bit, being an aquaponic setup I have a fish tank in my grow room that evaporates a little... I have fresh air ducted in from another room and RH stays around 60-70%. Temp is 80 with lights on, and 70 during "night" while flowering I set it to 11on13off, I harvested half the plant early and noticed the seed splitting problem... It's still growing but I'm sure the rest of the seeds are similar to what I have found so far. It's been in flower about 10 weeks. It has got to be something to do with aquaponic nutes. I don't see any leaf problems tho the plants totally kick ass with the fish water. the only supplement I add is some seaweed extract and chelated iron. The TDS stays around 800ppm and the PH is at 6.3. I know most of you don't use aquaponics so this is a kind of off the wall question
Edit: I noticed on one of my new plants I just put into flower that where leafs touch it has "sweat" like the humidity is too high... I think you might be on to something with the humidity. Is 67% RH at 78F too high?

Dr. Who said:

I don't see them popping on the plant...

Click to expand...

I have actually seen this happen but not with our favorite plant. I have seen it happen on sunflowers, field corn, & milo comes to mind. It takes prolonged damp warm conditions and by that point you are probably dealing w/botrysis bud rot anyway.

When seed of any type begins germination it's a done deal, you can not call a "time out" it's time get them in soil immediately or toss them.

AimAim said:

I have actually seen this happen but not with our favorite plant. I have seen it happen on sunflowers, field corn, & milo comes to mind. It takes prolonged damp warm conditions and by that point you are probably dealing w/botrysis bud rot anyway.

When seed of any type begins germination it's a done deal, you can not call a "time out" it's time get them in soil immediately or toss them.

Click to expand...

Shit,,,I have seen it in late and rainy season corn ! Got caught thinking strictly inside the box! Good call...

45 years of gardening and agriculture leads me to believe this is just another robust plant grown for a couple thousand years at least.

Stupid internet theories are just that. Flushing, defoliating, etc are things never done to ag crops. Put yer seed in the soil and stand back, all I can say.

AimAim said:

45 years of gardening and agriculture leads me to believe this is just another robust plant grown for a couple thousand years at least.

Stupid internet theories are just that. Flushing, defoliating, etc are things never done to ag crops. Put yer seed in the soil and stand back, all I can say.

Click to expand...

You mean to tell me you guys are not putting your corn in damp paper towels before planting? Holy shit!

Bugeye said:

You mean to tell me you guys are not putting your corn in damp paper towels before planting? Holy shit!

Click to expand...

No, but that was good !

After germinating on paper towels we go out and strip most of the leaves off our plants because they get in the way.

Roy Jenkins said:

RH stays around 60-70%.

Click to expand...

That's asking for trouble, get a dehumidifier.