Trent, Andy ; James, Robert ; Fleege, Clark ; Hileman, Gary . 2005. Using a Steamroom To Sterilize Pallets of Styrofoam Seedling Container Blocks. 0524 2808. Missoula, MT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, National Technology and Development Program.
Describes the use of a steamroom to sterilize pallets of Styrofoam seedling container blocks (known as styroblocks). Tree nurseries grow seedlings in these stryroblocks, which can be reused several times if they are sterilized after each use. Sterilization prevents the styroblocks from harboring diseases, such as those caused by the fungus Fusarium. In the past, styroblocks have been loaded into a cage with 20 to 50 other stryoblocks and immersed in hot water for 2 minutes. This process can take a long time when thousands of styroblocks need to be sterilized. The U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service's Missoula Technology and Development Center tested several methods of sterilization, including heating styroblocks in radiofrequency ovens, to see which methods would be the most practical for tree nurseries. The study was conducted at the Lucky Peak Nursery near Boise, ID. The most practical approach involved converting a cold storage unit to a steam sterilization room. The steamroom is loaded with pallets of styroblocks during the morning. The boiler is turned on at noon and the temperature is set to 160 °F. The boiler is turned off at 7 a.m. the following day. About 4,000 styroblocks can be sterilized at one time.
Keywords: disease control, disinfection, fungal diseases, fungi, Fusarium, humidity, Lucky Peak Nursery, nurseries, ovens, plant diseases, steam sterilization, sterilizing, styroblocks
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