Pectinase for cleaning seeds

[tank]

I've read about pectinase being used to clean the fruit off of cycad seeds and I assume that the enzyme would work for palm seeds as well.

I've been under the assumption that most seed dealers/nurserymen use a mix of enzymes and mechanical techniques to clean large quantities of seed.

Is this accurate and are there any issues with using pectinase to clean the fruit off of palm seeds?

Thanks

[tank]

Pectinase article

http://www.plantapalm.com/Vce/horticulture/seedcleaning.htm

[Phil]

I have a seed cleaning machine.  It's a glorified potato cleaner.  It works great on some seeds.  If the seeds are too small, I can't use it.  Small seeds fall through the outer margin outside of the cleaning disc.   It works well on many cycad seeds.  Zamias and Stangeria are the worst to clean.  Sometimes seeds will break.  I would not recommend getting such a machine unless someone is in the commercial seed or nursery business because of cost.  Hand cleaning is time consuming but does a great job.

Phil

[merrill]

Hi, Tank:

I've got a potato peeler, but on small seed I've used a variac and 1.5 hp Waring Blendor.  The variac can reduce the speed to about 60 rpm.  The series-wound motor is so large that it isn't damaged by the voltage reduction.  I have attached small wooden blocks to the blades, but now I just put the blades on backwards.  It requires fairly hard seed; it injures Florida Zamia for example.

The pectinase was a bit slow for me.

merrill

[Phil]

If anyone has ever tried to clean fresh Acrocomia seeds, they know what real work is.  Ralph Velez from California once told me to just throw them in the garbage disposal.  You just need to have small hands (this is where kids come in handy) to get them out and check the seeds from time to time.  They are big seeds.  Well, this worked great on a lot of seeds until....ca-thunk!  They broker the garbade disposal.  On to plan B.

Phil

[Logolight]

Wodyetias are some pretty time consuming seeds to clean as well and I cleaned four of them all together. ???

[merrill]

I've used a ball mill with added sharp sand for Acrocomia.  It takes a while, but it isn't necessary to stand and watch it, unlike the blendor, which I've also used on Acrocomia. - merrill

[The Germinator]

How about a rock tumbler,  if you can get a decent size one. Or maybe a cement mixer.

[tank]

Thanks for the info.