Seed Coat Properties and Longevity of Soybean Seeds

Abstract

Comparative evaluation of the physical characteristics of seeds, viz. color, size and density, proportion of seed coat, pores on the seed coat surface and “hourglass” cells in the seed coat, and seed longevity was made in 12 soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merrill] varieties. Physical properties of seed influenced the strength of the seed coat, which provides protection from mechanical damage during the preharvest and postharvest operations. There was significant genotypic variation for most of the seed characteristics, particularly, the gap between the seed coat and cotyledon, and the shape and distribution of hourglass cells in the seed coat. Good storer black-seeded varieties had lesser gap between the seed coat and cotyledon than the poor storer yellow-seeded varieties. Lesser gap was associated with higher mechanical strength of the seed coat. Black-seeded varieties had fewer pores on the seed coat surface and higher lignin content than the yellow-seeded varieties. Significance of these findings in developing better storer soybean varieties is discussed.