Physiological quality of physic nut (Jatropha curcas L.) seeds during storage

Abstract

The physic nut has been considered as one of the oilseed plants species with the highest potential for biofuel production. Oleaginous seeds demand special care during storage to maintain their quality. This study aimed to establish the most adequate conditions for their storage. Freshly-harvested seeds were dried until 7.2 moisture content and stored along a year, under the following conditions: environmental laboratory and cold chamber ( ±5 ºC and 60% RH), into paper bag, polypropylene bag, and cardboard barrel. Physiological quality was then assessed by the tests: germination; first count; germination speed index; seedling length; accelerated aging; cold test; field emergence; and emergence speed index, after zero, three, six, nine, and 12 months. There was linear reduction of germination and vigor of the seeds after storage under environmental laboratory condition, into paper or polypropylene bags, and cardboard barrel. Physiological quality was higher after storage in cold chamber, into paper or polypropylene bags; and into cardboard barrel, at environmental laboratory condition.