India is playing a crucial role in development of neem
as pesticide in agriculture and pest control industry.
Neem in India is used for many purposes
Veterinary medicine
Unani medicine
Cosmetics
Malaria control
- public health
CROP PROTECTION AGENT
Nitrogen efficiency
Agro-forestry
Silviculture
Ayurvedic medicine
Ancient medicine
Agriculture
Modren medicine
Antifertility and other medical application
Seed Viability and Storage in Relation to Tree Improvement
Progress in germplasm collection, provenance research, ex-situ conservation of gene
resources, broadening of genetic bases in countries of neem introduction and tree
improvement work has been poor, because seeds have an extremely short span of viability.
There are conflicting views regarding the storability of seed. Initial experiments suggest that
the seed can be dried at 26-280C or even at higher temperatures and maintained for longer
periods with higher level of viability at 150C or at room temperature than at lower
temperatures. Roederer and Bellafontaine, however, suggest that the dried seed can be
stored at as low as 40C. The above observations indicate that the neem seed oil can neither
be described as difficult to control since they can be dried at higher temperatures nor stored
at lower temperatures.
Work on long-term storage of neem seed is
essential for gene conservation. Short
storage for transit is, however, equally
needed for tree improvement and this can be
achieved by proper processing of the freshly
collected seed. Much depends on the
manner in which the seed is handled
immediately after harvest. For collection from
the trees seed set and fruit ripening colour
change must be studied for indication of
proper and correct timings of collection.
Fruits ripen in about 12 weeks after anthesis.
Drupes need to be macerated to ease out
the seed gently, washed with clean water
and dried in shade for dispatch and for
placement in temporary storage. Neem seed
stored in sealed containers lose viability
more rapidly than those stored in perforated
containers. Roederer and Bellafontaine
recommend storage in muslin and not in
plastic containers.