Abstract
The objectives of this work were to evaluate and adequate the method of thermotherapy via humid heat for the treatment of safflower seeds (Carthamus tinctorius L.) and, to verify its effect on the physiological and sanitary quality of seeds. The experiment was performed in the period from September to November, 2016 and from May to July, 2017, in entirely randomized design, arranged in 5 × 6 + 1 factorial scheme, with five temperatures: 25, 35, 45, 55 and 65 ºC and with six time periods: 5, 10, 15, 30, 45 and 60 min, plus the additional treatment (control), with eight repetitions. The seeds were packaged in glass of 500 mL and disposed in thermodigital water bath device with heated water according to the abovementioned factorial. We evaluated the degree of humidity of the seeds after thermotherapic treatments, the germination of normal seedlings, the emergence at field, the speed indexes of germination and emergence, the length and dry mass of seedlings and the sanity test. We observed that the treatment of seeds via humid heat thermotherapy was efficient in the control of phytopathogens, without damage to the physiological quality until 45 ºC. The treatment of 45 ºC for 15 min provided the greater reduction of the pathogens on the safflower seeds, incrementing its germinative potential and emergence at field.
Highlights
The safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.), Asteraceae, is a species of economic concern with broad fitness for use, from food to ornamental, offering high variability of raw materials
The safflower seeds used are from Yellow Saffron cultivar, collected in the crop of 2015/2016, the seeds were stored in cold chamber (15 oC and 40% UR) in kraft paper bags, with average degree of humidity of 9%
The experiment of thermotherapy via humid heat was in entirely randomized treatment, arranged in 5 × 6 + 1 factorial scheme, with five temperatures: 25, 35, 45, 55 and 65 oC and with six time periods: 5, 10, 15, 30, 45 and 60 min, plus the additional treatment, with eight repetitions
Summary
The safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.), Asteraceae, is a species of economic concern with broad fitness for use, from food to ornamental, offering high variability of raw materials. The safflower seeds have high oil content, on average of 35%, which is extracted and used, as raw material in the food, pharmaceutical and oil industry, with cultivation for this purpose in more than 60 countries, highlighting China, United States, Mexico and Argentina. The phytosanitary quality of ornamental seeds, mainly, the safflower ones contributes positively for the formation of the plants stand and for a production of quality of their floral stems, as well as the production of seeds. This way, the treatment of seeds is indispensable to avoid the dissemination of field diseases. Among the treatment techniques of seeds, the thermotherapy via humid heat or hot water immersion becomes a viable alternative and with low environmental impact (Silva et al, 2002; Lazarotto et al, 2013)
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