PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a sterilization method of seeds which can perform a sterilization treatment on a lot of seed particles at the same time, and which can reduce the size of a sterilizer.SOLUTION: The sterilization method includes sliding or rolling the seeds 14 as a sterilization object to fall along an inclined inner circumferential surface of a cylindrical base material 10 to which a photocatalyst is supported while irradiating the inclined inner circumferential surface with an activation wavelength light of the photocatalyst from a lamp 18 provided on the inside of the cylindrical base material 10, so that bacteria that adhere to surfaces of seeds 14 are sterilized by photooxidation reaction by the photocatalyst.COPYRIGHT: (C)2012,JPO&INPIT【課題】多数粒の種子を同時に殺菌処理でき且つ殺菌装置の小型化を図ることができる種子の殺菌方法を提供する。【解決手段】光触媒が担持された円筒状基材10の傾斜した内周面に、前記光触媒の活性化波長光を円筒状基材10の内側に設けたランプ18から照射しつつ、傾斜した前記内周面上に沿って殺菌対象の種子14を滑り或いは転がり落とし、前記光触媒による光酸化反応によって種子14の表面に付着している菌を殺菌することを特徴とする。【選択図】図1
