Effects of storage durations at different temperatures on various physiological parameters of einkorn seed (Triticum monucocum L.) germination

Abstract

In this present study, seed vigor was tested after different storage durations (0, 60, 120, 180 days; maximum 420 days) in air-conditioning cabinets set to various temperatures (4, 10, 20 °C) and free-temperature at room condition. After seven days for each of the storage durations, germination rate (GR), mean germination time (MGT), germination speed (GS), seed vigor index (SVI), shoot and root length (SL, RL), shoot and root dry weight (SDW, RDW), root number (RN), electrical conductivity (EC) and pH for all seed lots were recorded. The average GR at room temperature storage decreased from 86% recorded on the 60th day, to 59% by the end of the 420th day, while germination rate was still around 70% with the seeds stored at 4 °C. The decrease in GS was recorded after the 300th day till the end of 420 days of storage (ranging between 9.8 and 9.4 seed day−1). The lowest SVI was 7.9 at the beginning of storage (day 0) and increased gradually within 60 days of storage for all temperatures tested. Irrespective of storage duration, the SL and RN showed the highest overall mean of 10.7 cm and 4.8 root for the seeds stored at 4 °C. EC sharply decreased overall to a mean of 18.9 μScm−1 g−1 for all temperatures within the first 60 days of storage. The highest correlation (r = 0.937) was determined between GS and MGT. This study provides a new insight to the farmers for better understanding that concerns practical implications of einkorn farming as follows: storage at 4 °C is best way of the maintanence of highest seed vigor. For the storage duration regardless of the temperatures, it can be kept minimum 60 days, since the seed deterioration can be effective after 180 days of storage depending on storage temperature.