I have had problems with citrus seeds in cleaning them, I am trying to store seeds dry, I know lowers germination significantly, but I have had them develop mold in a few weeks after being stored, so far lemons don't seem to be affected, minneola tangelos and key limes if I am careful. What I usually do is suck whatever I can off the seeds and then sertilizer them in water that is 120-130 degrees F for 10 minutes and then let them dry out for 2 days; Today I got seville oranges and when I did the normal procedure of cleaning, if it can be called that, they were extremly slimy and I think they may mold from this. I am wondering if anyone knows a good way to clean citrus seeds to store, weather it be dry or cold storage, Thank you for your help,
Sincerely,
James

I saw something really neat from an E-Bay trader this year. I bought some seeds, and they had put some rice in the bag. The rice doesnt prevent mold, but like in a salt shaker, it sucks up some of the extra moisture.
I think the seeds that i was just licking or rinsing clean lasted about 2 weeks in the fridge before looking just a touch moldy. I think letting dry on the outside would have increased that even more.
definately fridge IMHO. good luck!

We use the "standard" nursery method with seeds -- after removing them from the fruit, rinse them in plain water, which usually removes all the stickiness except from Poncirus and citranges, which remain sticky. If there is any chance the fruit fell on the ground and you want to be sure there is no phytophthora, soak them in 125 F water for 10 minutes (warmer or longer will kill a good number of them, and even this treatment will dramatically increase your percentage of albinos in the population). Then spread them out in a single layer on newspapers and air-dry overnight. Place in zip loc bags or jars with lids, and refrigerate until planting time. I don't recall ever having a batch go moldy.

Garnetmoth and Malcom Manners,
Thank you very much for both your responses, it seems that if I let them dry out two days that they are ok in storage but 1 day and the mold.
I'm glad to know that using the water does the trick because I haven't had to use fungicide since I started using the water, again thank you for your help,
Sincerely,
James

first id put the seeds between 2 then kinda put a little pressure on the top towel and roll seeds back and forth this was with pamagranits and yes i did this several times 7 days later i have sprouted all of the seeds i started YES ....

Thanks Laaz for helping with the baggy method and having this site ..for us to learn from ..Tammy

A little powdered fungicide will prevent the mold. I store my dried trifoliate seeds with a dusting captan in the refrig over winter with little loss of vitality. I haven't had luck preventing mold without the captan.

Mr. Texas,
Thank you very much that sounds like a real good idea, I'll have to try that next year in stead of storing them dried.
Sincerely,
James

I also use captan. I first clean and dry the seeds, as described above, and then put a good pinch in with the seeds. I then shake the bag to ensure that all of the seeds are covered with fungicide.

Ned