Seed Storage Time Research Articles

Effect of Storage Duration on the Insecticidal Activity of Neem (<i>Azadirachta indica</i>) Seeds Against Fall Armyworm (<i>Spodoptera frugiperda</i>)

Neem (<i>Azadirachta indica</i>), native to India, thrives in tropical and sub-tropical climates. Its efficacy against economically significant pests is attributed to the pesticidal properties found in its leaves, bark, and roots. Neem seeds are always harvested by smallholder farmers and stored for use in crop-growing seasons when their availability is scarce. This study aimed to determine if storage duration can affect the toxicity of these neem seeds. Neem seed extracts were tested for toxicity after being stored at different durations, they were stored for 1-3 years. The objective of this study was to analyze the effects of storage time on the insecticidal activity of neem seeds. Fall armyworm larvae were used to test for the neem seed extracts’ toxicity by feeding on maize plants which were sprayed with these extracts. The experimental design used was a complete randomized design in the laboratory. Extracts were made from neem seeds stored for 1-3 years which were harvested from year 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022. Analysis of FAW larvae mortality at different concentrations (0.5%, 1.0%, 1.5%, and 2.0%) together with the control treatment under laboratory conditions was done. Damage severity rates of maize leaves in which the FAW larvae were allowed to feed were measured and FAW larvae mortality was calculated. The results showed a significant interaction between neem seed storage time and FAW mortality. The results showed that extracts from fresh neem seeds and those stored for one year had the lowest plant damage score. Also, the lowest mortality was obtained from seeds stored for 1 year and the fresh seeds because the larvae refrained from feeding. Following this study, we recommend the usage of fresh neem seeds and those stored for up to a year in the management of fall armyworms.

Effect of Seed Storage Duration and Methods on Growth and Yield of Basil Variety

The experiment was conducted at Wondogenet Agricultural Research Center to determine the effect of seed storage period and methods on the growth and yield of basil. Basil seeds stored in three storage methods (Plastic jar, Polypropylene, and Cotton bags) for six storage periods (initial period, one, three, six, nine, and twelve months) were used to evaluate the impact of the treatments on the yield and performance in the field. The field experiment was arranged by using RCBD design with three replications. The data were taken at the 90% physiological maturity stage. The results showed a significant difference between the treatments. The results indicated that the interaction effects of basil seed storage time and methods had a significant (P<0.05) effect on Primary Branch Number, Plant Height, Umbrella length, Dry, and Fresh biomass. The umbrella number of the storage methods had an accelerating trend with raising storage duration to 3 months storage, after that it shows a declining trend with raising storage time. The two storage methods plastic jar and bag maintained the seed in good condition for 3 months further, storage of the seed leads to the shortest plant and umbrella length. The highest dry biomass was recorded at 3 months stored seed in a plastic bag which was not significantly different from 3 months stored seed in a plastic jar. Basil dry biomass for the jar stored seed ranged from 0.85 to 3.33, 0.91 to 3.42 ton/ha for plastic bag whereas for the cotton bag, it ranged from 0.6 to 2.26 ton/ha. In general, seeds stored for three months had shown better growth and yield.

Test For Germination of Cocoa Seeds (Theobroma cacao L.) Using Different Storage Lengths

Cocoa is one of the plantation commodities that has quite an important role in Indonesia's economic activities. Based on data from the International Cocoa Organization (ICCO) in 2021 and 2022, Indonesia is ranked 7th as the largest cocoa-producing country in the world. Apart from increasingly open export opportunities, the domestic cocoa bean market is still quite large. One of the problems in preparing high-quality seeds is seed storage time. Seeds that are stored will experience deterioration or decline in quality with signs of decreased quality, low viability and vigor, poor planting, and reduced yields. This research aims to determine the extent to which cocoa seeds are able to germinate well if stored for a certain time so that they can become a benchmark for seed users for sowing. The research approach was carried out qualitatively using mathematical methods. Data is analyzed and displayed in table form. Treatment 0 seeds were planted immediately. Treatment 1 seed was stored for 1 week, treatment 2 seeds were stored for 2 weeks, treatment 3 seeds were stored for 3 weeks, and treatment 4 seeds were stored for 4 weeks. The research results on the germination capacity of cocoa seeds with different storage periods showed that the best treatment was for seeds planted directly in the nursery, with water content 35.7%, germination time 12.3 days, germination capacity of 97.56%.

Risk Analysis of Sengon (Falcataria moluccana Miq.) Seedling Production Using Fault Tree Method

This research analyzed the sengon (Falcataria moluccana Miq.) seedling production risk and factors associated with the risks at the Research and Development Center for Forest Plant Seed Technology (BPPTPTH) Bogor. The data collection included interviews using questionnaires with 11 purposely selected respondents. This research employed the Fault Tree Analysis (FTA), a descriptive qualitative method, to analyze the seedling production risks. The results revealed two groups of risks, namely field and management production risks, that stemmed from eight primary roots. These eight primary roots included long seed storage time, far distance between the nursery and the researcher's office, lack of safety facilities, lack of employee skills, lack of employee appreciation, high frequency of employee absences for personal reasons, changes in seasons that cause changes in planting schedules, and changes in budget allocation. Inaddition to these eight main factors, leaf aphids and fungi attacks, including tumorrust(karat puru), could also increase seedling production risks.

Pengaruh Lama Penyimpanan Benih dan Konsentrasi Rendaman Air Kelapa terhadap Viabilitas Benih Padi (Oryza sativa L.)

Effect of Seed Storage Time and Coconut Water Soak Concentration on Viability of Rice Seed (Oryza sativa L.). This study aims to determine the effect of seed storage time and concentration of coconut water immersion on viability of rice seeds (Oryza sativa L.). This study used a completely randomized design (CRD) split plot. The main plot is the storage time of seeds consisting of 3 levels, namely storage time of 7 months (L1), 8 months (L2) and 9 months (L3). Sub-plots were the concentration of coconut water immersion consisting of 4 levels, namely immersion without coconut water (K0), 10% coconut water (K1), 20% coconut water (K2) and 30% coconut water (K3). Each treatment was repeated three times. This research was carried out at the Plant Breeding and Seed Technology Laboratory, Faculty of Agriculture, Udayana University from October 2021 to December 2021. The results showed a storage period of 7 months and a concentration of 10% coconut water (L1K1) which had the highest growth rate of 84.00% compared to with a storage period of 9 months and without soaking coconut water (L3K0) which has the lowest value of simultaneous growth of 52.00%. The storage period of 7 months gave the highest value for the variables of growth speed (23.96%/etmal), simultaneous growth (79.42%), germination (96.17%) and maximum growth potential (97.42%) compared to storage time. 8 and 9 months. The 10% coconut water concentration gave the highest value for the variable growth speed (23.65%/etmal) and maximum growth potential (96.44%) compared to no coconut water immersion. The concentration of 30% gave the highest value for the simultaneous growth variable (75.22%) compared to no coconut water immersion.

The effect of geographic location and seed storage time on the content of fatty acids in stone pine (Pinus pinea L.) seeds

The fatty acids content in pine seeds is important because it affects germination success and commercial value. In this study, the amount of fatty acids in the seeds of stone pine (Pinus pinea L.) was determined in seeds collected from different geographical locations and after two-year storage. The pine seeds were collected from different locations where peanut pine is densely located in the Western Black Sea Region of northern Turkey in 2019. The results showed that the content of some fatty acids (C18:1n-9, ƩMUFA, C18:2n-6, and ƩPUFA) in the seeds collected from different geographical locations did not differ significantly, but the content of others (C16:0, C18:0, C20:0, ƩSFA, and C18:3n-3) was dependent on the locations. The difference among locations was up to 40% (p < 0.05). In general, the lowest values were obtained from the seeds of Bartın Karaçaydere, and the highest values were obtained from the seeds of Bartın Çakraz and Bartın Avara locations. After two years of storage, the content of all the fatty acids in the seeds decreased based on the location, and a decrease of more than 25% in the content of some fatty acids was observed.

Assessment of the Effects of Seed Storage Time on Germination Rate and Performance Evaluation of Ethiopian Faba Bean (Vicia faba L.) Varieties for Yield and Related Traits.

In Ethiopia, faba bean (Vicia faba L.) varieties are important and widely used as a source of food and cash source to large number of subsistence farmers. However, their production and productivity is below the world's average partly because of lack of their sustainable performance in the current scenario of climate change. Therefore, the present study was designed to test the effects of seed storage time and to evaluate the performance of 31 faba bean varieties collected from Holeta, Kulumsa and Sinana agricultural research systems, Ethiopia. The study involved germination test and field experiment that was laid out using randomized complete block design (RCBD) and conducted at multiple test locations. Data were collected on qualitative and quantitative traits and analyzed using SAS version 9.0, and MINITAB® Release 19. Accordingly, most of the varieties showed a promising germination rate regardless of their storage duration suggesting their sustainable performance under suitable storage conditions. Most of the qualitative and quantitative traits showed a wide range of variations revealing their stable performance and better chance for further improvement. Analysis of variance also revealed a highly significant (p < 0.001) variation for several of the traits suggesting maintenance of the original diversity that could be important in further selection breeding. Likewise, high genetic advance coupled with high heritability and genotypic coefficient of variation together with wide range of variations in both PCV and GCV observed in several of the quantitative traits suggest their sustainable performance and significance in further effective selection. Moreover, a promising high yielding varieties such as Dida1, Welki, Hachalu, Ashebeka and Obse have been identified for further use. Clustering grouped the varieties into three clusters implying significant amount of genetic variability among them. Overall, the results generated could be used as a baseline information for improving faba bean production and productivity. However, to exploit more and determine the actual performance of the varieties more markers such as molecular markers (DNA based) are recommended.

Effect of Water Stress during Seed Production and Storage Time on Germination and Seedling Growth of Cowpea Grown in the Dry Zone of Sri Lanka

The water stress during the flowering stage of cowpea reduces the seed yield of the same season, but its effect on seed germination and seedling growth in the following season remains poorly understood. This study was carried out to determine the effect of soil water stress maintained during the onset of flowering stage and storage period of seeds on seed germination, vigor index, and seed physical characteristics of five cowpea varieties (<em>Waruni</em>, <em>Dhawala</em>, <em>MI 35</em>, <em>ANKCP 01 </em>and <em>Bombay</em>) in the following season in the dry zone of Sri Lanka. Seed production under well-watered and water-stressed conditions was done at the Field Crops Research and Development Institute (FCRDI), Mahailuppallama, in a Randomized Complete Block Design. The germination study was conducted in a polytunnel at the Faculty of Agriculture, Rajarata University of Sri Lanka, Anuradhapura, following the Completely Randomized Design. Seeds of five cowpea varieties produced after exposing the plants to two soil moisture levels (water stress: -50 kPa and well-watered: -30 kPa) were used in a series of germination trials conducted after 1, 1½, 2, and 2½ months of storage. Three hundred seeds from each genotype, randomly sub-divided into three replicates of 100 seeds each, were sown in sterilized sand media. Germination percentage was recorded on the 4^th and 6^th days after sowing. The seedling characters were assessed on the 6^th day after sowing, using five randomly-selected seedlings from each replicate. The results revealed that the storage time significantly affected germination (<em>p</em>= 0.0133). However, the soil water status maintained during seed production did not affect the germination percentage of any variety in the following season. The majority of the varieties showed an increase in germination percentage with storage time. Although the vigor index did not change with either the well-watered or water-stressed treatments in all five varieties, the vigor index of all varieties declined with storage period irrespective of the water treatment (<em>p</em>&lt; 0.0001). The findings suggest that moderate water deficits during cowpea seed production do not compromise seed germination and seedling vigor in the following season while emphasizing the importance of utilizing the seeds for subsequent field cultivation in the following season before their vigor is decreased.

The physiology of plant seed aging: a review

Seed quality plays an important role in the agricultural and animal husbandry production, the effective utilization of genetic resources, the conservation of biodiversity and the restoration and reconstruction of plant communities. Seed aging is a common physiological phenomenon during storage. It is a natural irreversible process that occurs and develops along with the extension of seed storage time. It is not only related to the growth, yield and quality of seed and seedling establishment, but also has an important effect on the conservation, utilization and development of plant germplasm resources. The physiological mechanisms of seed aging are complex and diverse. Most studies focus on conventional physiological characterization, while systematic and comprehensive in-depth studies are lacking. Here we review the recent advances in understanding the physiology of seed aging process, including the methods of seed aging, the effect of aging on seed germination, and the physiological and molecular mechanisms of seed aging. The change of multiple physiological parameters, including seed vigor, electrical conductivity, malondialdehyde content and storage material in the seed, antioxidant enzyme activity and mitochondrial structure, were summarized. Moreover, insights into the mechanism of seed aging from the aspects of transcriptome, proteome and aging related gene function were summarized. This study may facilitate the research of seed biology and the conservation and utilization of germplasm resources.

Environmental factors affecting germination of Mimosa ephedroides (Fabaceae), an endemic shrub from Monte Desert, Argentina

&#x0D; Mimosa ephedroides is an endemic shrub from western Argentina. The knowledge of the germination response of this species to different environmental factors contribute to its efficient use in ecological restoration projects. This study aimed to examine aspects of seed quality, seed dormancy, and the effect of temperature, water and saline stress on the germination of this species. Also, the effect of seed storage time on the viability and the percentage of germinated seeds were evaluated. Experiments were carried out in controlled growth chambers. Germination percentage and mean germination time were calculated. It was found that this species has non-dormant seeds. Concerning abiotic factors, the optimum temperature for germination ranged from 20 to 30 ºC, it presented high germination percentages even at moderate and severe water stress (-1.12 MPa), and the germination percentages decreased with increasing salinity levels from 300 mM NaCl. In short periods (up to 36 months), seed storage at room temperature (18ºC) was adequate, not affecting the viability and the germination power of the seeds. These results constitute a contribution to the knowledge of the autecological aspects of this endemic species, support its incorporation for restoration projects, and aid to an efficient use of native seeds for direct seeding or seedling production.&#x0D; Highlights&#x0D; &#x0D; Mimosa ephedroides seeds are non- dormant, show high viability and rapid germination (&gt;24 h).&#x0D; This shrub is able to germinate in a wide range of temperatures and under moderate and severe water stress.&#x0D; High salinity levels (&lt;300 Mm NaCl) negatively affected seed germination.&#x0D; Seed storage for short periods (&lt;5 years) at room temperature (18ºC) did not affect seed viability and germination.&#x0D;

Seedling age, nitrogen fertilizer, and seed storage time affect the seed germination of rice varieties in Nigeria

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of seedling age and nitrogen (N) fertilizer (urea) rates on germination with the storage of two rice varieties. With four replications, the trial was set up as a split-split plot design. The key factor in trial was two rice varieties the subplot factor was four seedling ages (7, 14, 21, and 28 days), and the sub-sub plot factor was five inorganic N fertilizer rates (0, 60, 120, 180, and 240 kg N ha-1). The highest germination rate was found in seedlings that were seven days old and had not been fertilized with nitrogen. All the treatments, germination decreased with storage but germination was better at one and two months of storage. With the application of 0 kg – 60 kg N ha-1 to seven days old rice seedlings, seeds stored at one and two months gave a non-significant higher germination.

The effect of pillen seed storage time and application of humic acid on the growth of tobacco seedlings (Nicotiana tabacum L.)

Tobacco is one of the seeds that can be stored for a specified period. Seed storage is one of the ways in maintaining the viability of the seeds to meet the needs of the next planting period. Pillen seed technology has developed where in addition to increasing the size of seeds can improve the quality of seeds. Kaolin in pillen has an Al content which is suspected if absorbed by plants will inhibit the growth of tobacco seeds. Giving humic acid is expected to be able to play a role in binding Al so that the level of Al content in the soil can be lowered so as not to cause toxins to plants. This study aimed to determine the effect of pillen seed storage and the application of humic acid on the growth of tobacco seedlings. This study used the factorial of complete randomized design (RAL) 2 × 3. The first factor of the concentration of humic acid consisted of without humic acid 0 ml / l and liquid humic acid 6 ml/l. The second factor for the shelf life of the top seeds is 3, 8, and 13 years. Humic acid concentration of 6 ml could support the growth of the tobacco seedlings.

Dynamics of alfalfa seed hardness change depending on the seed storage time

A significant part of perennial legumes seeds, including alfalfa, after ripening, has a seed coat nonpermeable for water and air, and therefore they do not germinate immediately after sowing. This property is called seed hardness. The purpose of our research was to study seed hardness of the alfalfa samples in the collection of the FSBSI “ARC “Donskoy” depending on the seed storage time. The seed hardness of the studied varieties after 1 month of storage ranged from 31 to 74% on average for two years. The varieties “Sonora 76” (the USA) and “Stavropolskaya 430” (Russia) possessed the highest value of the studied trait (62% and 74%, respectively). The seed hardness of the standard variety “Rostovskaya 90” was 49.5%. After 6 months of storage, the percentage of seed hardness in all studied varieties significantly decreased. The studied indicator of the standard variety “Rostovskaya 90” decreased to 24%. The varieties “Smuglyanka” (Ukraine), “Zvezdochka” (Russia), “Veko” (Canada), “Admiral” (Canada), “Verta+” (Canada), “AZNIHI-5” (Azerbaijan), “Tashkentskaya 1” (Uzbekistan), “Karlygash” (Kazakhstan) with the indicators from 7% to 13% had a significantly lower percentage of seed hardness compared with the standard variety. The varieties “Sonora 76” (USA) and “Stavropolskaya 430” (Russia), with seed hardness of 38.5% and 49%, respectively, significantly exceeded the standard variety “Rostovskaya 90”. After 12 months of storage, seed hardness of the studied varieties ranged from 4 to 22.5%. The indicator for this trait of the variety, taken as a standard was 16.5%. A significantly lower percentage of seed hardness (from 3% to 10%) was in 12 studied varieties, the lowest indicator was shown by the variety “Zvezdochka” (Russia). The two varieties “Sonora 76” (USA) and “Stavropolskaya 430” (Russia) showed a significant excess with indicators of 21.5% and 22.5%, respectively.

FUNGSI ALTERNATIF ASAP HASIL PEMBAKARAN MATERIAL TUMBUHAN SEBAGAI EXOGENUS GROWTH FACTOR

In general, people throughout the world have utilized the application of smoke and/or fire from burning in terms of land cultivation, seed and food preservation and pest control. In Indonesia, most studies are still examining the application or use of combustion smoke in relation to seed storage time and pest control. While those who focus their studies on promoting growth and development are still very minimal. Therefore in this paper the author wants to review the alternative function of liquid smoke as an exogonus growth factor that can promote germination during the vegetative phase. Several studies have proven that the chemical compounds contained in the smoke from the combustion of plant material s that can be converted into liquid form (liquid smoke) can actually act as an external growth factor that can encourage plant growth and development, including germination. Key Words : liquid smoke, Growth Factor external, Germination

Experimental seed germination for ex situ conservation of Mexican Podostemaceae

Background: Podostemaceae are extremely susceptible to local extinction by habitat loss. Since ~70 % of the river systems in Mexico show some degree of water contamination, it is relevant to generate information about seed storage and germination behavior to design germplasm conservation strategies ( e.g ., ex situ seed banks) of Mexican podostemads.&#x0D; Hypotheses: Seed germination decreases as seed storage time increases. Further, light quality, temperature and collection site influence similarly the germination response of both species.&#x0D; Studied species: Marathrum foeniculaceum Humb. &amp; Bonpl., Noveloa coulteriana (Tul.) C. Philbrick&#x0D; Study site and years of study: 13 different seeds collections (1996-2013), at four locations in the rivers Horcones and Arroyo del Rincon Jalisco, México. &#x0D; Methods: A germination chamber experiment was performed to evaluate the effect of temperature, light quality and storage time on the germination of both species.&#x0D; Results: Seeds lose viability after nine years of storage. In both species, the time to reach the highest Accumulated Germination Percentage (AGP) was faster in seeds of one-two yr compared to seeds of six-seven yr. N. coulteriana have significant differences in Final Germination Percentage (FGP) between collection rivers. Storage time affects AGP of N. coulteriana more than in M. foeniculaceum. &#x0D; Conclusions: Both species can form ex situ seed banks up to 8 yr age in paper bags storage. N. coulteriana is more susceptible to variation in storage conditions compared to M. foeniculaceum . Collection site affect seed germination after storing. Long-term conventional ex situ seed germination storage is not a viable strategy to conserve germplasm of Podostemaceae.

The Morphological Features and Biology of a Relict and Endangered Woody Plant Species: Chamaedaphne calyculata (L.) Moench (Ericaceae).

Chamaedaphne calyculata (L.) Moench is a rare post-glacial relic, which reaches the south-western boundary of its European range in Poland. However, little is known about the morphology and biology of this species. In this study a biometric analysis of assimilating leaves and general morphological appearance was carried out; flowering, fruiting, and seed production in a natural site were described and the ability of seed germination was determined after varied seed storage time at 0–2, 2–4, 6–8, and 21–23 °C. A quite large intrapopulation variability was found as regards the features under analysis. The most varied features included the length of the petiole, followed by the leaf blade area, while the length to the width of the leaf blade was the least varied feature. C. calyculata flowered abundantly and about 50% developed flowers turned into fruits. On average there were 56 seeds per fruit with a predominance of mature seeds. The length of the seed storage time had a significant effect on all parameters of the germination process. The temperature at which the seeds were stored, apart from the time to maximum germination parameter, had a significant effect on other parameters of the germination process. Interactions between the seeds storage time and temperature factors were observed only for germination percentage, germination index, and germination index rate parameters. The ability of seeds to germinate, non-creation of the seed bank and other results of the research provide new information necessary for planning and carrying out conservation procedures (including active conservation in ex situ conditions).

Plant-Microbe and Abiotic Factors Influencing Salmonella Survival and Growth on Alfalfa Sprouts and Swiss Chard Microgreens.

Microgreens, like sprouts, are relatively fast-growing products and are generally consumed raw. Moreover, as observed for sprouts, microbial contamination from preharvest sources may also be present in the production of microgreens. In this study, two Salmonella enterica serovars (Hartford and Cubana), applied at multiple inoculation levels, were evaluated for survival and growth on alfalfa sprouts and Swiss chard microgreens by using the most-probable-number (MPN) method. Various abiotic factors were also examined for their effects on Salmonella survival and growth on sprouts and microgreens. Community-level physiological profiles (CLPPs) of sprout/microgreen rhizospheres with different levels of S. enterica inoculation at different growth stages were characterized by use of Biolog EcoPlates. In the seed contamination group, the ability of S. enterica to grow on sprouting alfalfa seeds was affected by both seed storage time and inoculation level but not by serovar. However, the growth of S. enterica on Swiss chard microgreens was affected by serovar and inoculation level. Seed storage time had little effect on the average level of Salmonella populations in microgreens. In the irrigation water contamination group, the growth of Salmonella on both alfalfa sprouts and microgreens was largely affected by inoculation level. Surprisingly, the growth medium was found to play an important role in Salmonella survival and growth on microgreens. CLPP analysis showed significant changes in the microbial community metabolic diversity during sprouting for alfalfa sprouts, but few temporal changes were seen with microgreens. The data suggest that the change in rhizosphere bacterial functional diversity was dependent on the host but independent of Salmonella contamination.IMPORTANCE Sprouts and microgreens are considered "functional foods," i.e., foods containing health-promoting or disease-preventing properties in addition to normal nutritional values. However, the microbial risk associated with microgreens has not been well studied. This study evaluated Salmonella survival and growth on microgreens compared to those on sprouts, as well as other abiotic factors that could affect Salmonella survival and growth on microgreens. This work provides baseline data for risk assessment of microbial contamination of sprouts and microgreens. Understanding the risks of Salmonella contamination and its effects on rhizosphere microbial communities enables a better understanding of host-pathogen dynamics in sprouts and microgreens. The data also contribute to innovative preventive control strategies for Salmonella contamination of sprouts and microgreens.

Effects of seed storage time and salt stress on the germination of Jatropha curcas L.

Jatropha curcas L. has been proposed to be a potential tropical plant for augmenting renewable energy sources. Due to its several merits, J. curcas deserves to be considered as candidate for biofuel production instead of for food seed sources. Its seeds contain 27–40% oil that can be processed to produce a high quality biodiesel fuel that is usable in a standard diesel engine. While J. curcas grows well under low-rainfall conditions, the salt tolerance capacity of this species has received meager attention. Furthermore, another major problem faced by this species is the lack of a safe system capable of guaranteeing seed germination when stored for medium or long periods of time. Thus, J. curcas seeds show two important problems: (i) rapid loss of viability, resulting from the high respiratory rate of the seeds during storage, and (ii) seed sensitivity when germinated under salt conditions. Therefore, the main objectives were (i) to verify if storage in very low humidity boxes can improve germination without affecting the oil content of the seeds and (ii) to compare different genotypes to prove their salt tolerance capacities. The results indicate that from the use of desiccants, all the germination parameters were kept reasonably constant, and germination was essentially unchanged during the entire storage period. Biochemical activity, supported by the drastic reduction in respiratory activity of the seeds, was also decreased during the storage in order to keep the seed reserves intact; therefore, J. curcas seeds may be resistant to storage when stored in a controlled process. On the other hand, it was shown that J. curcas presents a moderate tolerance to salinity. This species is able to germinate in the presence of up to 150 mM of Sodium chloride (NaCl), although a drastic reduction in the biomass accumulation was observed with the increase in salt concentration in the irrigation water. It was shown that the germination was reduced to values close to 4% at 150 mM NaCl; whereas biometric and biomass characteristics were strongly affected by the increase in salt content. However, it was shown that genotypes 114, 171 and 183 were shown to be potentially tolerant, whereas genotypes 218 and 133 were sensitive.

Mycobiota of maize seeds revealed by rDNA-ITS sequence analysis of samples with varying storage times.

Fungi are an integral component of the plant microbiome. However, the composition and variation in the fungal communities (mycobiota) associated with seeds are poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the mycobiota of 11 maize seed samples with storage times ranging from 6 months to 12 years. Mycobiota were characterized by a culture‐based approach, and fungal species were identified through rDNA‐ITS sequence analyses. From a total of 169 pure fungal isolates obtained from both the seed surface and internal tissues, we identified 16 distinct species (belonging to 10 genera) associated with maize seeds, all but one of which were ascomycetes. Among these species, seven were exclusively isolated from internal tissues, two species were isolated only from the seed surface, and another six species were isolated from both the surface and internal tissues. Aspergillus niger was consistently found under all storage conditions and dominated fungal communities with a relative abundance of 36%–100%. Species of Fusarium (9%–40%) and Penicillium (9%–20%) were also frequently isolated, but other species appeared sporadically and were isolated from fewer than three seed stocks. According to our results, while the overall incidence of fungal infection generally declined with storage time, there was no consistent association between seed storage time and fungal species richness or relative abundance; furthermore, the composition of the mycobiota associated with maize seeds was highly variable among the samples. The detection of the four major mycotoxigenic fungal genera, specifically Aspergillus, Fusarium, Penicillium, and Alternaria, was alarming, and the isolation of a potential controlling agent as well as information about their temporal occurrence will contribute to the management of mycotoxins in the future.

Influence of Storage Time of Moringa oleifera seed on the coagulant activity efficiency for raw water treatment

Objective: To verify storage and storage time influence of Moringa oleifera seeds in coagulant activity when used for natural raw watertreatment. Methods/Analysis: Two types of coagulant extracts with high turbidity levels (105, 202, and 410 NTU) were applied to raw water samples taken from Sinu River in Colombia. Coagulant “A” was prepared with Moringa oleifera seeds stored and preserved for 6 months and, coagulant “B”, prepared with seeds stored for 4.5 years. Three different doses of each coagulant were used (15, 30 and 60 mgL-1) according to a 32 experimental design. Findings: Although coagulant extracts’physical appearance was different, coagulant activity between the extractsshowed no statistically significant differences. A 30 mg L-1 optimum dosein raw water allowed for the attaintment of turbidity removals greater than 95%, regardless of coagulant type. As a result, the greater the raw water turbidity, the greater efficiencies achieved with extracts of Moringa oleifera seeds. Application: Based on results obtained,it is possible to assertthat seeds stored in dry containers and at room temperature can be used as a coagulant in a time period less than or equal to 4.5 years. Keywords: Coagulant Activity, Moringa Oleifera, Raw Water, Seed Storage Time