THE FAO MADE RECOMMENDATIONS IN 1975 ON THE STANDARDS AND PROCEDURES TO BE USED IN STORING SEEDS FOR LONG-TERM AND MEDIUM-TERM CONSERVATION. TO FURTHER THIS WORK, THE INTERNATIONAL BOARD FOR PLANT GENETIC RESOURCES (IBPGR) ESTABLISHED A WORKING GROUP THAT MET AT FAO, ROME, IN AUGUST, 1976, TO DEFINE THE ENGINEERING, DESIGN, AND COST ASPECTS OF LONG-TERM SEED STORAGE FACILITIES. THIS REPORT PRESENTS THE FINDINGS OF THAT GROUP. IT INCLUDES DISCUSSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS CONCERNING THE FOLLOWING: TYPES OF SEED TO BE STORED; MOISTURE CONTENT AND STORAGE TEMPERATURE; SEED DRYING AND THE CONTROL OF MOISTURE CONTENT; ROUTINE MOISTURE DETERMINATIONS AND GERMINATION TESTS; SIZE OF ACCESSIONS AND THE VOLUME OF THE COLD ROOM; SELECTION OF A SITE FOR A STORAGE FACILITY; SEED BANK CONSTRUCTION; DESIGN OF THE COLD STORAGE ROOM; INSULATION; REFRIGERATION PLANT; AIR CIRCULATION; SAFETY PRECAUTIONS; DESIGN STANDARDS; COST OF PREFABRICATED COLD ROOMS; ANCILLARY ROOMS AND EQUIPMENT REQUIRED; AND TOTAL COST OF FACILITIES FOR LONG-TERM SEED STORAGE. APPENDICES TO THE REPORT IDENTIFY THE PARTICIPANTS IN THE WORKING GROUP, PRESENT THE IBPGR LIST OF CROP PRIORITIES AND THEIR SEED STORAGE CHARACTERISTICS, AND DISCUSS THE USE OF DEEP-FREEZE CHESTS FOR LONG-TERM STORAGE OF SMALL SEED COLLECTIONS.
