It is known that most of the species do not seed every year. So, it becomes necessary to collect and store the seeds in good seed years without impairing their quality for use in the lean year. The seeds of most commercial species can be stored for periods of 3 to 10 years and sometimes longer if held at low temperature and low moisture content in sealed containers. The proper moisture content varies from 4-12%, depending on the species, and the temperatures should be below 50c, preferably in the range from -170c to 00c. It is important to dry the seeds uniformly and to prevent fluctuations in moisture content during storage. Under these conditions, respiration continues at the low level necessary to keep the embryos alive and only small amounts of the stored carbohydrates are converted into carbon dioxide in the process. Polythylene bags make good containers because they are impermeable to water but not to oxygen and carbon dioxide. These attributes prevent changes in moisture content but allow slow exchange of the gases involved in respiration to continue through the container walls.

Some calcitrant seeds are difficult/impossible to store, most of which have very short viability. Even though, they can be kept in cold, moist media; even if kept in refrigerated storage they may last up to a year or two.

As a general rule , the ideal storage conditions are those in which respiration and transpiration is reduced to a minimum without damaging the viability and strength of embryo. The methods of storage also vary with species as given as follows:

1. Species with seed of transient viability: Seeds having very short viability should be stored due to unfavorable weather conditions or labor availability. This is best done by spreading them in shade, on hard floor. Sprinkling of water should be given from time to time to prevent desiccation. In this way, they can be stored for 2-3 weeks, e.g., Shorea or most Dipterocarps, Myrtaceae and Lauraceae.
2. Species whose seeds ripen in autumn and germinate in spring: The species such as conifers or Quercus, of temperate region mostly show such characters. Generally, conifers require dry cold storage but the broadleaved trees require wet cold storage,i.e., they have to be kept moist and at low temperature. Such seeds can be stored in pit keeping the top of seeds about 45-60cm below the ground level and covering them with soil. But it is difficult to handle the seeds.
3. Species whose seeds ripen in winter or summer and germinate in the following rainy season: Most species in the plains produce seeds in winter or summer and these seeds germinate in nature in the follwing rainy seaon. Thus they bear the varying termperatures and moisture conditions before germinating in rains. Such seeds can be stored in dry conditions either in a room or store house depening on quantities of seeds to be stored. Gunny bags or sealed tins or drums can be used to store the seeds in store house. Desirable to store seeds with low moisture content (about 5% to orthodox seeds which can be stored for longer periods and 20-25% for recalcitrant seeds: which cannot be stored for longer periods )