Quality of soybean seeds with high mechanical damage index after processing and storage

Antônio R Vieira,Humberto P Da Silva,Rodrigo De G E Reis,Jacson Zuchi,José M G Neve,João A Oliveira

doi:10.1590/1807-1929/agriambi.v20n11p1025-1030

Abstract

ABSTRACT This study aimed to evaluate the quality of soybean seeds with high level of mechanical damages from different processing stages and stored with and without fungicide treatment. Collections of seed samples were performed during the processing at the following points: hopper, pre-cleaning, dryer, cleaning, spiral, sieve-classifier and the gravity table. The experimental design was completely randomized in a 9 x 2 factorial scheme, with 9 collection points and two seed treatments, in four replicates. The seeds were then evaluated immediately after processing and after six months of storage. The processing progressively improved the attributes of soybean seed quality throughout the different stages in which the gravity table plays an important role in the improvement of the physiological and sanitary quality of the lot, favoring the storage potential and vigor of the seeds. The treatment of the seeds with fungicides is effective in controlling fungi before and after storage. The storage of soybean seeds with high level of mechanical damage markedly increases their deterioration.

Highlights

The quality and viability of soybean seeds during storage depend on the initial quality and on the storage conditions of the lot
The soybean seed is susceptible to the mechanical damages that occur during the harvest, drying and processing, which may negatively influence seed viability and vigor during the storage (Maryam & Oskouie, 2011)
This study aimed to evaluate the quality of soybean seeds after the different processing stages and after the storage with and without fungicide treatment

Summary

Introduction

The quality and viability of soybean seeds during storage depend on the initial quality and on the storage conditions of the lot. Due to the morphological arrangement of soybean seeds, which provides little protection to the embryonic axis, since it is situated on a tegument that is not much thick (Lopes et al, 2011), the seeds become more susceptible to the mechanical damages considered as the main cause of the reduction in seed quality during the entire production process. Factors such as water content and genetic variability cause large influences on the susceptibility of the seeds to mechanical damages (Silva et al, 2011b). These damages are not sufficient to destroy the structures of the seeds, but cause the appearance of cracks that lead to abnormalities in the seedlings, higher susceptibility to the action of microorganisms and higher sensitivity to chemical treatments, reducing the quality and storage potential of the lots

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion