Abstract
Fumigation is a technique employed to eliminate insect pests in stored seeds by using gas. The aim of the experiment was to evaluate the effect of the gas phosphine on germination and on vigor (accelerated aging and seedling length) of soybean seeds. Soybean seeds of two cultivars with two vigor levels were used. Each treatment was replicated four times and each experimental unit consisted of two kilograms of seeds, which were placed in individual 1 m³ gas-tight capacity chambers with phosphine. The concentrations used were 1.0; 2.0 and 3.0 g PH3.m-3, achieved by applying 3.0; 6.0 and 9.0 g of Fertox® commercial formulation. During seven days, the phosphine gas concentration within each chamber was monitored using the Silochek® gas meter. After this period, the chambers were opened, the seeds were removed and the quality analyses were performed. Throughout the experiment, PH3 concentrations in the chambers remained at the concentrations required for the elimination of all life stages of insect pests of stored seed. Even in the lowest dosage, the gas concentration remained above 400 ppm that is considered the minimum concentration for eliminating insect pests. No detrimental effects were detected on the physiological quality of the fumigated seeds.
Highlights
The evolution of soybean cultivars and population management of grain production crops have been demanding the supply of soybean seeds of high physical, physiological, genetical and sanitary quality
There are several storage pests that occur in soybean seeds, and among them the following stand out most often: Lasioderma serricorne, Cryptolestes ferrugineus, Oryzaephilus surinamensis, Ephestia elutella and Ephestia cautella, Sitophilus oryzae, Rhyzopertha dominica, Tribolium castaneum, Liposcelis bostrychophila, Ahasverus advena and Lophocateres pusillus (Krzyzanowski et al, 2010; França-Neto et al, 2011)
Due to the occurrence of these pests, in particular Lasioderma serricorne, on grains and soybean seeds, fumigation has been adopted as a routine practice during soybean storage (França-Neto et al, 2010; Lorini et al, 2010)
Summary
The evolution of soybean cultivars and population management of grain production crops have been demanding the supply of soybean seeds of high physical, physiological, genetical and sanitary quality. Due to the occurrence of these pests, in particular Lasioderma serricorne, on grains and soybean seeds, fumigation has been adopted as a routine practice during soybean storage (França-Neto et al, 2010; Lorini et al, 2010). Fumigation is a technique used to eliminate pests in stored seeds and grains by using gas It should be performed whenever there is infestation in a seed lot, silo or warehouse. This process can be accomplished in many different storage facilities, as long as they provide the perfect sealing of the site to be fumigated and the safety standards for the products in use. Any air outlet or intake must always be sealed with appropriate materials, such as a fumigation tarp (Lorini, 2008)
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