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

Márcio Dias Pereira,Eduardo Euclydes De Lima E Borges,Luiz Antônio Dos Santos Dias,Denise Cunha Fernandes Dos Santos Dias,Sebastião Martins Filho,Paulo Emídio Soriano

doi:10.1590/s2317-15372013000100003

Márcio Dias Pereira, Eduardo Euclydes De Lima E Borges + Show 4 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1590/s2317-15372013000100003

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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.

Highlights

Seeds of oleaginous plants are of difficult preservation during storage once are very prone to deterioration
According to Freitas et al (2009), cotton seeds present a strong trend to deterioration because of their high oil content, demanding special attention and care during storage for the maintenance of their viability and vigor
Such aspect can be considered valid for seed of physic nut (Jatropha curcas L.), which belongs to the Family Euphorbiaceae and has stood nationwide for its potential for production of biodiesel, due to the high oil content in the seeds; which can reach circa 40% (Arruda, 2004)

Summary

Introduction

Seeds of oleaginous plants are of difficult preservation during storage once are very prone to deterioration. According to Freitas et al (2009), cotton seeds present a strong trend to deterioration because of their high oil content, demanding special attention and care during storage for the maintenance of their viability and vigor. Such aspect can be considered valid for seed of physic nut (Jatropha curcas L.), which belongs to the Family Euphorbiaceae and has stood nationwide for its potential for production of biodiesel, due to the high oil content in the seeds; which can reach circa 40% (Arruda, 2004). The knowledge of the behavior of seeds during storage is important in trying to increase their longevity, retarding their deterioration and avoiding significant losses in their physiological quality

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