VIABILITY OF OAT AND BARLEY SEEDS DURING STORAGE

Abstract

The work presents the evaluation results of the viability of oat and barley collection varieties during storage in the laboratory conditions at the temperature of 20-25o C. Seed storage covered the period of 2006-2017. The research included 24 varieties of barley and 29 varieties of chaffy oats of domestic and foreign breeding collection. The seeds were stored in different packaging materials such as standard paper package; glass bottles of 0.25 liter and plastic bottles of 0.5 liter. The initial seed moisture content was 8.5-9.0 per cent. The varieties were divided into groups taking into account the initial laboratory seed germinating ability. For oats the fi rst group included 10 varieties with initial germination of 96-99%; the second group included 12 varieties with initial germination of 91-95%; the third group included 7 varieties with initial germination of 86-90%. For barley the fi rst group consisted of 5 varieties with initial germination of 91-99%; the second group consisted of 10 varieties with initial germination of 81-90%; the third group consisted of 9 varieties with initial germination of 71-80%. Determination of seed quality was carried out in 7 and 11 years’ time. The initial moisture content of seeds remained without signifi cant changes in all packaging types during the storage period of 11 years. It was also noted that germination of oat and barley seeds during 7 years of storage did not differ in any type of package. The average value in all three groups of oats was 93.2%. After 11 years of storage, germination of oat differed a little, depending on the type of package. In a paper bag it was 80.4%; in a glass bottle – 88.2%; in a plastic bottle – 85.1%. The average initial germination of three groups of barley in 7 years’ time of storage was 84.7%. After 11 years of storage, germination of barley was 53.2% in a paper bag; 63.3% in a glass bottle; 61.8% in a plastic bottle It was revealed that oat and barley seed germination in 7 years’ time did not differ in any type of package. After 11 years, germination of oats was 5.8% higher, and germination of barley was 8.6% higher in a sealed plastic bottle than in a standard paper bag. Differences in seed germinating ability between the glass and plastic bottles were not observed.