Seed Moisture Research Articles

Influence of oil content on the equilibrium moisture content of evening primrose ( Oenothera SPP.) seeds

Seed moisture content is a well-recognised index of safe storage. However, when in equilibrium with the storage environment it is merely an indicator of the relative humidity of the air, which is the primary regulator of the growth of moulds and insects. The relationship is influenced by the profile of the seed components. During the 1990s, significant increases in the seed oil content of evening primrose were achieved through plant breeding. This paper shows that the equilibrium moisture content of evening primrose seeds declines significantly with increasing oil content. Hence, the moisture isotherm is altered and newer cultivars must be stored at slightly lower seed moisture contents to ensure that seed and oil quality are maintained.

Efeito da umidade das sementes sobre as perdas quantitativas de soja (<em>Glycine max</em> (L.) Merrill) no processo de colheita mecanizada

The study evaluated the effect of the differents moisture of the seeds on the quantitative losses of mechanical soybean harvest. The experiment was carried out in a randomized blocks with 3 treatments and 4 replications. The treatments were consisted of three levels combinations of seed moisture: 14,6; 12,5 and 11,4%. The treatments were to determining harvest losses and in the mechanisms of separation and cleaning and the total crop losses. The results obtained allowed conclusions that as smaller seeds humidity during the harvest larger will be the losses.

Determinação do teor de água de sementes de café empregando o método da capacitância em radiofreqüências

O desenvolvimento de modelos matemáticos que correlacionem a permissividade elétrica relativa épsilon' e o fator de perda dielétrica épsilon" à quantidade de água presente em amostras de sementes é um passo fundamental no desenvolvimento de medidores em linha do teor de água que possam ser empregados no controle automático de processos como colheita, secagem e aeração. Esse trabalho consistiu na avaliação de três modelos dielétricos para determinação do teor de água de sementes de café, sem a influência do fluxo de massa. Foram utilizadas amostras das variedades Catuaí Amarelo, Catuaí Vermelho e Mundo Novo, com teores de água entre 11 e 23% b.u. e massa específica aparente no intervalo 326 kg m-3 <<FONT FACE=Symbol> r < </FONT>455 kg m-3. Dos modelos obtidos, apenas aquele que utiliza a medição simultânea de épsilon' e épsilon", a 0,5 e 5,0 MHz, permite estimar o teor de água de sementes de café com o grau de acurácia desejado. Os erros padrão de calibração e predição foram de 1,3 e 1,2 pontos percentuais, respectivamente.

The effects of kencur (Kaempferia galanga L.) extract and storage period on seed borne fungi and citrus (Citrus sp.) seed viability

The recalcitrant seeds need a high moisture level during in storage to prevent loss its viability. The storage at a high moisture level is a favorable condition for fungi growth and on the other hand, a low seeds moisture level will loss the seeds viability. The citrus seeds as one of recalcitrant seeds need a special condition in storage. The storage of citrus seeds by using kencur (Kaempferia galangal L.) extract can protect the seeds against fungi during storage and preserve its viability. The purpose of this research was to determine the best concentration of K. galanga extract which protects the citrus seeds against fungi as long as period storage, the kind of fungi and its percentage of infection, and the citrus seeds viability. This research was carried out in September until November in 2004 at Plant Pest and Disease Laboratory and Greenhouse of Agricultural Faculty of Sebelas Maret University. The citrus seed used was Keprok variety from Ponorogo. The research design was a Randomized Completely Block Design (RCBD), with the treatments: (1) included the seeds without being stored and without being given by K. galanga extract, (2) the seeds were stored for 2 weeks with 100%, 75%, and 50% K. galanga extract, (3) the seeds were stored for 4 weeks with 100%, 75%, and 50% K. galanga extract, (4) the seeds were stored for 6 weeks with 100%, 75%, and 50% K. galanga extract, and (5) the seeds were stored for 8 weeks with 100%, 75%, and 50% K. galanga extract. Data were analyzed by using F test with 5% and 1% significance levels. If there were real differences, it was continued to be tested by using a Duncan multiple range test with 5% significance level. The results of this research showed that K. galanga extract by 50% was the best concentration that protected the citrus seeds against fungi for 2 weeks of storage. The storage of citrus seeds with K. galanga extract more than 2 weeks decreased seeds viability. The dominant kinds of fungi that attack citrus seeds in the storage were Aspergillus spp. and Penicillium spp., obtained by using a blotter test.

Comparative studies of drying methods on the seed quality of interspecific NERICA rice varieties (Oryza glaberrima x Oryza sativa) and their parents

Seed moisture content (MC) is a key component that determines storability of germplasm conserved in seed genebanks. The purpose of this research was to compare the efficiency of sun-, shade-, silica geland conventional room drying in terms of rice seed MC and viability using seeds of two interspecific progenies (NERICA 1 and NERICA 3) and their parents Oryza glaberrima and O. sativa varieties harvested 15 days before, at and 15 days after mass maturity. Sun drying most significantly reduced MC (4-5%) and was comparable with silica gel drying regardless of the variety tested and the maturity stage at harvest. Likewise, sun drying gave the best germination percentages followed by silica gel. Shade and room drying did not significantly lower MC and led to poor germination, especially when rice was harvested prematurely. Except for the sativa variety, harvesting prematurely resulted in no germination. In contrast, the initial germination percentages in all tested varieties improved as rice was harvested at or after mass maturity rather than 15 days earlier. Though comparable to sun drying, silica gel may not be readily available and affordable for resource-limited seed storage facilities. In this case sun drying was found an effective and affordable method for short-term storage, especially farm-saved seeds.

Modeling of moisture, color and texture changes in sesame seeds during the conventional roasting

Roasting is the basic unit operation in the sesame paste production. Sesame seeds were roasted using conventional method at 120, 150, and 180 °C for 120 min. The effect of heating time and temperatures on the moisture content, color and texture of sesame seeds were investigated. The changes occurred in the moisture content, color values ( L-, a-, and b-) and textural properties (hardness and fracturability) of sesame seeds were simulated using exponential, kinetic and polynomial models. Two parameter exponential and Page models provided the satisfactory description for the moisture content changes. The variations in the color parameters of sesame seeds during conventional roasting were adequately simulated by cubic polynomials. The zero-order kinetic model satisfactorily described the reduction in the hardness and fracturability of sesame seeds. The one-step nonlinear regression analysis was used to determine the temperature dependence of the model coefficients. The temperature dependence of moisture and color models was described by linear function relationship, but Arrhenius-type relationship was used for textural models. The activation energy for sesame seeds was estimated to be 6.9 and 9.8 kJ/mol for hardness and fracturability changes, respectively over the temperature range of the study.

Effects of water supply methods and seed moisture content on germination of China aster ( Callistephus chinensis) and tomato ( Lycopersicon esculentun Mill.) seeds

Uniform and fast germinating seeds are of prime importance for agriculture. To improve the germination properties of seeds, different treatments called priming are used. These methods generally involve the controlled uptake of water by the seeds. To be able to understand the processes involved in different priming methods the aim of the research was to study the relationship between the methods of water supply, water uptake rate by seeds, seeds moisture content and germination of China aster ‘Jolanta’ and tomato ‘Janosik’ seeds. Seeds of these species were primed by: (i) soaking in excessive amount of distilled water for 0–1440 min in the ratio of seeds to water (v:v) of 1:3; (ii) soaking in limited amount of distilled water 10–1280 ml kg −1of seeds; (iii) matriconditioning in the ratios of 1:0.4:0.2–2.0 (w:w:w) for seeds, Calflo and water, respectively. The imbibed seeds were incubated for 1 day at 20 °C and seed moisture content was measured after incubation. Additionally, in seeds moistened up to 37% (China aster) and 35% (tomato), dynamics of water uptake were examined. Seeds, after imbibition and incubation, were dried to the initial moisture content (m.c.). Percentage of the germinated seeds, maximum germination ( G max), time for the first seed to germinate ( T 1), time to reach 50% germination ( T 50), time between 10 and 90% of G max ( T 90– T 10), at 5, 20 or 35 °C for the China aster seeds and at 15, 20 or 35 °C for tomato were evaluated. The results showed that water supply methods significantly affected seed imbibition rates and dynamics of seed germination, although these depended on plant species. It was found that water uptake was fastest in seeds soaked in excessive water amount and also that China aster took water faster than tomato. Imbibition of seeds during matriconditioning in Calfo and in limited water amounts was slower. Imbibition of seeds up to 37% m.c. for China aster and 35% m.c. for tomato, irrespective of the conditioning method, was the most favorable for germination. The earliest germination was observed in seeds soaked in excessive amount of water and incubated for 1 day. Germination of seeds matriconditioned, and those conditioned in limited water amount for 1 day was slower. We conclude that although the optimal final moisture content is independent of the different water supply methods used, the water supply method itself strongly affect the germination properties ( T 1, T 50 and T 90– T 10 dynamics of germination).

Effect of Storage Temperature and Seed Moisture on Germination of Stored Flowering Dogwood Seed

Abstract Dogwood producers occasionally face a shortage of flowering dogwood seed. Storing excess seed during years when seed are abundant would allow growers to stabilize their seed supply. This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of seed moisture and storage temperature on the viability of stored flowering dogwood seed. Seed were collected in Fall 1999 and 2000, dried to 6, 10 and 14% moisture content, and stored at 22, 5 and −20C (72, 41 and −4F) for 1, 2 and 3 years. Following storage, seed were cold stratified and sown in a greenhouse. Percent germination and seedling dry weight were recorded. Seed stored at 22C (72F) quickly lost viability. At 5C (41F), seed moisture content was critical, with seed dried to 14% moisture content germinating poorly after 2 years and failing to germinate after 3 years in storage. In general, storage at −20C (−4F) was superior to storage at 5C (41F). Seed moisture content was not as critical at −20C (−4F) as it was at 5C (41F), but may become more important if length of storage is extended past 3 years. Based on the results of this study, it is recommended that seed be dried to 6 to 10% moisture prior to storage, stored in air-tight containers, and stored in a −20C (−4F) freezer.

The Effect of Flooding Stress at the Germination Stage on the Growth of Soybean in Relation to Initial Seed Moisture Content

The Effect of Flooding Stress at the Germination Stage on the Growth of Soybean in Relation to Initial Seed Moisture Content

저선량 방사선 조사 시 종자수분함량이 채소류의 발아와 초기생장에 미치는 영향

저선량 방사선 조사 시 종자수분함량이 채소류의 발아와 초기생장에 미치는 영향

Foreign Material and Seed Moisture in Glyphosate-Resistant and Conventional Soybean Systems1

Advances in biotechnology within the last decade have caused dramatic changes in agricultural production systems. In Mississippi, over 60% of the soybean hectarage was planted to glyphosate-resistant soybean in the 2001 production season. One advantage of glyphosate-resistant systems may be that fields with fewer weeds at harvest result in less foreign material and lower seed moisture due to less foreign material. Research was conducted to assess the foreign matter and moisture content of representative glyphosate-resistant and conventional soybean by evaluating elevator receipts collected from soybean producers in the southern and midwestern United States. A survey of growers using glyphosate-resistant and conventional soybean was conducted during the fall and winter of 2000. Copies of elevator receipts were collected to compare the foreign matter percentage and moisture content of soybean in both categories. A total of 16,535 ha were represented, of which 13,903 were from glyphosate-resistant soybean and 2,632 were from conventional soybean. Average foreign matter content from the glyphosate-resistant soybean was 1.9%, compared with 2.5% from the conventional soybean. Thus, the glyphosate-resistant program reduced foreign matter, an indication of reduced weed seed and trash contained in the sample or improved harvest efficiency. No difference was noted in seed moisture content between the two systems.Nomenclature: Soybean, Glycine max (L.) Merr.Additional index words: Crop quality.Abbreviations: fb, followed by.

Continuous wave free precession: Practical analytical tool for low-resolution nuclear magnetic resonance measurements

The use of continuous wave free precession (CWFP) as a practical analytical tool for quantitative determinations in low-resolution nuclear magnetic resonance (LRNMR) is examined. The requirements of this technique are shown to be no more demanding than those prevailing in free-induction decay or spin-echo measurements. It is shown that the substantial gain in signal to noise ratio for a given acquisition time permitted by CWFP, can be exploited with advantage in practically any application of LRNMR. This applies not only to homogeneous low viscosity liquid samples but also to multi-component systems where differences in relaxation times of each component permit a separation of the individual contributions. As an example, the use of CWFP for fast quantitative determination of oil and moisture in various seeds is presented.

An evaluation of five methods for the determination of moisture in grass seeds

Seed of four grass species was re-hydrated to 11 pre-determined moisture concentrations ranging from 100 to 600 g kg-1 fresh weight ( FW) to simulate seed maturation during swathing and combining. The performance characteristics of three thermogravimetric and two electronic capacitance methods of moisture determination were evaluated. The thermogravimetric methods had no moisture range limitations and were, in general, more accurate than the electronic methods. The thermogravimetric Koster tester is suitable for grass seeds of all moisture concentrations, and can be easily adapted for use at field sites. The John Deere Moisture- Chek electronic tester is suitable for the rapid determination of moisture in grass seeds but is limited to concentrations of 80–250 g kg-1 FW. Key words: Grass seed crops, seed moisture measurement, swathing, combining, time of harvest

Efeito do retardamento da colheita sobre a qualidade fisiológica de sementes de aveia-branca (Avena sativa L.)

Com o objetivo de avaliar o efeito do atraso da colheita na qualidade fisiológica de sementes de quatro cultivares de aveia-branca (Avena sativa L.), foi instalado um experimento no Centro Agropecuário da Palma CAP/UFPel, no ano agrícola 1999/2000. Utilizou-se uma combinação fatorial de quatro cultivares (CTC 5, UPF 18, UFRGS 15 e UFRGS 19) e sete épocas de colheita, em delineamento experimental blocos completos casualizados, com três repetições. As colheitas iniciaram quando as panículas estavam com a umidade em torno de 30% (maturação fisiológica) e as demais colheitas a intervalos regulares de sete dias. Avaliou-se os teores de umidade, rendimento de sementes, percentagem de germinação, teste de envelhecimento acelerado, primeira contagem do teste de envelhecimento acelerado, índice de velocidade de germinação, peso de mil sementes, teor de proteína e rendimento industrial, em cada época de colheita. A umidade das sementes decresceu acentuadamente até 14 dias após a maturação fisiológica, em todas as cultivares. O retardamento da colheita ocasionou uma redução do rendimento de sementes de 30kg/ha por dia de atraso, a partir da maturação fisiológica. Não se verificou efeito do retardamento da colheita na percentagem de germinação, índice de velocidade de emergência, peso de mil sementes, rendi-mento industrial e teor de proteína. O vigor das sementes de aveia-branca, medido pelos testes de envelhecimento acelerado e de primeira contagem, diminui a medida que a colheita foi atrasada.

Maturidade fisiológica de sementes de milho

The ideal moment for the harvest of seeds depends on many factor, such as the knowledge of the seed maturation process. Thus this research was carried out to analyse the development of black layer and initiantion of endosperm solidification (milk line), to determinate the relationship between those caracteristics and seeds fisical and physiological quality and to verify the possibility of indicating the best point fot harvesting of each material. For this purpose, an experiment was at Dow agroSciences, with two materials: a lineage (LA) and a corn simple hybrid (HS). The harvest began at the initiantion of endosperm solidification, that is when the amylum transformation line started to move. After each harvest it was determined the seeds moisture content, and analysed the milk line and black layer. At laboratory, after drying, the seeds were analysed for moisture content, germination and vigor. The vigor tests, were: accelerated aging, cold test and electrical conductivity. Based on the results it was concluded the harvesting time of corn for seeds can be determined using the milk line and black layer. Harvesting can be done at stage et the 5 th of milk line or 3rd and 4th of the black layer development.

Breaking of Two Types of Dormancy in Seeds of Edible Polygonatum macranthum.

When freshly harvested mature seeds of Polygonatum macranthum Koidz. were planted in October and grown outdoors, no radicle emerged until the following summer and no shoot emerged until the second spring. Radicle emergence was induced by chilling moist seeds at 17°C or below ; radicle dormancy was completely terminated by stratification at 5°C for 60 dyas. The optimum temperature range for germination after the termination of radicle dormancy was about 21°C. The cold stratification of excised seeds improved germination over a similar treatment on intact fruits. Air-drying seeds for about 3 days before cold stratification delayed germination. Seeds, kept moist at 21°C after the termination of radicle dormancy, almost stopped growing after 60 dyas of incubation because the epicotyl became dormant. In this case, no shoot emerged unless the seedlings were chilled again to terminate epicotyl dormancy. Therefore, the type of dormancy in P. macranthum seeds resembles the one in P. odoratum (Takagi, 2001). The optimum temperature range for shoot emergence after the termination of epicotyl dormancy was 25 to 29°C. Warm stratification after cold stratification and exposure to a second chilling greatly affected the time shoots emerged. Higher percentages of early and total shoot emergence were obtained when seedlings were kept at 21°C for 120 days after the termination of radicle dormancy and then chilled at 5°C for 90 days to terminate epicotyl dormancy.

The Effects of Combinations of Temperature and Seed Moisture Treatments on Hardseededness in Okra

The Effects of Combinations of Temperature and Seed Moisture Treatments on Hardseededness in Okra

172 Calorimetric Evaluation of Apple Seed Dormancy

Apple embryos from moist seeds kept at 4 °C were used for a calorimetric characterization of Red and Golden Delicious apple seed dormancy. Seeds were sampled at 100-h intervals during 1200 h. The metabolic response of such samples was compared to that from chilled Golden Delicious seeds (>1200 h) stored under controlled atmosphere (CA). Isothermal calorimetry at 25 °C, evaluated metabolic activity (q), respiration rate (RCO2), metabolic 65 °C estimated activation energy (Ea) in a 10 to 20 °C range, and respiration coefficients (Q10) from 10 to 50 °C at 10 °C intervals. Data showed a direct relationship between chilling exposure and embryo metabolic responses from both cultivars. Once chilling requirement was satisfied, Red and Golden Delicious seeds presented a significant increase (P ≤ 0.05) in q, 0.94 and 0.98 μW/mg dry weight (dw); RCO2, 9.9 and 7.6 mmol CO2/mg dw; and RSG·ΔHB, 3.6 and 2.5 μW/mg dw, respectively. On the other hand, q/RCO2 did not follow a definite pattern, neither in Red nor Golden Delicious cultivars. Ea decreased 19.2 and 23.4 J/mol per °K per mg dw in Red and Golden Delicious, respectively, as a function of seed chilling. Q10 showed a significant response to temperature, but not to chilling exposure. Golden Delcious seeds from CA showed a significant reduction on q, RCO2, and RSG·ΔHB of 0.28 μW/mg dw, 2.47 mmol CO2/mg dw, and 14 μW/mg dw, respectively. Results show that calorimetry is a sufficiently sensitive, fast, and precise tool to quantify metabolic responses during seed chilling, as evolving energy.

Effect of preharvest applications of glyphosate on the drying, yield and quality of canola

Potential use of preharvest applications of glyphosate in canola (Brassica rapa L.) in western Canada both as a harvest aid and to control weeds prompted this study. Experiments were conducted from 1988 to 1990 at four locations in the region to document the effectiveness of preharvest applications of glyphosate to enhance canola seed and foliage drydown and to measure the effect of such applications on seed yield and quality. Glyphosate was applied in early August to early September at rates of 0.45, 0.90 and 1.70 kg acid equivalent ha−1 to canola with seed moisture contents ranging from 79 to 12%. Seed and foliage moisture drydown were not enhanced by glyphosate treatment. Glyphosate treatments generally had little or no effect on canola seed yields, seed weight, seed germination, green seed content or oil content except when applied when the pods were green and when seed moisture contents were high. Seed/pod moisture was not a reliable indicator of stage of canola development and thus, should not be used alone as an indicator of when preharvest applications of glyphosate can be applied to canola without decreasing seed yield and quality. Key words: Glyphosate, canola, Brassica rapa L., preharvest application, desiccation, seed quality

Effects of Storage Temperature, Storage Period and Seed Moisture Content on Seed Viability of Mash Bean (Vigna mungo)

Effects of Storage Temperature, Storage Period and Seed Moisture Content on Seed Viability of Mash Bean (Vigna mungo)