Storage Of Seeds Research Articles

Creating saponin-free yellow pea seeds by CRISPR/Cas9-enabled mutagenesis on β-amyrin synthase.

Dry pea (Pisum sativum) seeds are valuable sources of plant protein, dietary fiber, and starch, but their uses in food products are restricted to some extent due to several off-flavor compounds. Saponins are glycosylated triterpenoids and are a major source of bitter, astringent, and metallic off-flavors in pea products. β-amyrin synthase (BAS) is the entry point enzyme for saponin biosynthesis in pea and therefore is an ideal target for knock-out using CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing to produce saponin deficient pea varieties. Here, in an elite yellow pea cultivar (CDC Inca), LC/MS analysis identified embryo tissue, not seed coat, as the main location of saponin storage in pea seeds. Differential expression analysis determined that PsBAS1 was preferentially expressed in embryo tissue relative to seed coat and was selected for CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing. The efficiency of CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing of PsBAS1 was systematically optimized in pea hairy roots. From these optimization procedures, the AtU6-26 promoter was found to be superior to the CaMV35S promoter for gRNA expression, and the use of 37°C was determined to increase the efficiency of CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing. These promoter and culture conditions were then applied to stable transformations. As a result, a bi-allelic mutation (deletion and inversion mutations) was generated in the PsBAS1 coding sequence in a T1 plant, and the segregated psbas1 plants from the T2 population showed a 99.8% reduction of saponins in their seeds. Interestingly, a small but statistically significant increase (~12%) in protein content with a slight decrease (~5%) in starch content was observed in the psbas1 mutants under phytotron growth conditions. This work demonstrated that flavor-improved traits can be readily introduced in any pea cultivar of interest using CRISPR/Cas9. Further field trials and sensory tests for improved flavor are necessary to assess the practical implications of the saponin-free pea seeds in food applications.

Properties, Storage and Germination Behavior of Seeds of <i>Berberis tinctoria</i> Lesch., an Endangered Medicinal Plant from Shola Forests of Western Ghats, India

Properties, Storage and Germination Behavior of Seeds of <i>Berberis tinctoria</i> Lesch., an Endangered Medicinal Plant from Shola Forests of Western Ghats, India

Etapas da criopreservação de sementes de café: respostas fisiológicas e de sistemas antioxidants

ABSTRACT: The cryopreservation of plant germplasm at ultralow temperatures is an alternative technique for the long-term storage of seeds of the genus Coffea sp. However, for this technique to be successful, cell integrity must be maintained at all stages of the process on the basis of scientific research. The present study investigated validated cryopreservation protocols for Coffea arabica L. seeds and evaluate the effects on the physiological and biochemical characteristics of the seeds at each stage of the process. Seeds were dried on silica gel or with saturated saline solution, precooled or not in a biofreezer, immersed in nitrogen, and reheated in a water bath. After each of these steps, the physiological and biochemical quality of the seeds was determined. Pre-cooling is a step that can be dispensed with in the cryopreservation of Coffea arabica seeds, direct immersion in liquid nitrogen being more indicated. Coffea arabica L. seeds tolerate cryopreservation after rapid drying in silica gel up to water contents of 17 or 20% (wb), with greater survival at 17%. The enzyme activities of catalase, polyphenol oxidase and peroxidase are indicators of the quality of C. arabica L. seeds subjected to cryopreservation.

A Seed Storage Protocol to Determine Longevity.

The longevity of seeds, also known as storability, is the period of time for which a seed lot maintains its viability during storage. The method aims to determine longevity of a seed lot during storage in a controlled environment. Seeds are first rehydrated to a preset water content (or relative humidity, RH) and then incubated under controlled conditions for various periods of time to allow for deterioration to occur. At increasing intervals during storage, seeds are retrieved and viability is tested by scoring germination of the seed lot (i.e., radicle protrusion). From these data, a survival curve can be drawn depicting loss of germination during time of storage from which different parameters estimating longevity can be inferred. These parameters can be used to compare longevity between different seed lots, genotypes, or species at similar storage conditions. This test can also be used as a proxy to measure seed vigor or physiological seed quality.

Effects of storage temperature and pre-treatments on seed germination of Primula mallophylla and P. sertulum (Primulaceae), two narrowly-distributed endemic species from southwest China

Primula mallophylla and P. sertulum are wild ornamental species of south-west China, but the responses of their seeds to storage have not been determined. When seeds were dry-stored for 24 months at room temperature (RT) (ca. 21°C) and at 4°C, germination increased during the first six months, but then decreased over the following 18 months. The decrease in germination was slower for seeds stored at 4°C than for those stored at RT. When seeds of these two species were dry-stored at -20°C for 24 months, germination percentage was significantly higher than that of the control seeds by the sixth month; the high germination percentages persisted at 24 months. In addition, pre-germination treatments (i.e., immersion in 100 μmol L -1 GA3 for 24 hours, cold stratification for 30 days or both) improved the final germination and reduced mean germination time of P. mallophylla seeds stored for 12 months at RT, but not those of P. sertulum. Taken together, storing seeds at -20°C is feasible and convenient for both primrose species; thus, it is possible to safely store seeds for future research and conservation.

Impact of plant growth regulators on okra seed quality and storability under ambient conditions

During kharif 2020 and 2021, an investigation was conducted to investigate the role of plant growth regulators as foliar spray on okra seed yield and quality. The experiment was laid out in RBD with three replications and eleven treatments. Foliar sprays were done at 15 and 30 DAS. Observations on various plant growth parameters, yield attributing characters, seed yield, seed storability and quality were recorded. Harvested seeds were stored in poly bags for a period of twelve months to study the storability of seeds. Results revealed that treatment with Cycocel 250 ppm recorded highest germination percentage (83.37%) followed by GA3 150 ppm (80.50%) whereas control plot recorded (73.00 %) of germination one year after storage. The rate of decrease in germination was (8.09%) with Cycocel (250 ppm) as compared to control (15.02%). The lowest increase in seed moisture content was recorded with Cycocel (250 ppm) ( 3.43%) followed by GA3 (150 ppm) as compared to control (4.98%). Up to twelve months of storage the progressive decline of Vigour Index -I and Vigour Index -II was demonstrated with Cycocel (250 ppm), GA3 (150 ppm) and NAA (200 ppm) with a decreased rate which expressed their potentiality as effective growth regulators . The electrical conductivity increased with a very decreased rate in Cycocel (250 ppm) (255.77%) followed by GA3 (150 ppm) (324.11%) and NAA (200 ppm) (384.31%) as compared to control ( 583.98%). Hence Cycocel (250 ppm) may be considered as best plant growth regulators increasing yield, seed quality and storability of okra.

Quality Changes during Storage of Hot-chili Seeds Primed with Different Drying Speeds

Changes of quality during storage of primed hot-chili seeds with different drying speeds were studied. Hot-chili seeds (Capsicum annuum L. cv. Mae-ping) with initial germination of 98% were halo-primed in 2% KNO3 solution for 3 days. After soaking, seeds were subjected to two drying rates: fast drying (FD) by incubating in 35% RH for 3 days and slow drying (SD) by incubating in 75% RH 2 days, then 50% RH for 2 days and 35% RH for 3 days. Non-primed seed (control) and primed seeds were stored at 5°C for 12 months and at 40 °C for 6 months. The results revealed that before storage, germination percentage of primed hot-chili seeds were not significantly different from that of control seed. However, primed seed with SD had faster germination speed than primed seed with FD and control. During storage at both temperatures, the controlled seed had significantly highest germination percentage throughout the storage period. The germination percentage and catalase enzyme activity of SD primed hot chili seed were significantly lower and their electrolyte leakage and H2O2 content were significantly higher than that of FD primed seed and control. These significant differences occurred more rapidly in high temperature storing than that of low temperature condition.

Ultra-dry storage extends the viability of groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) seeds

In general, the groundnut seed possess short viability. Therefore, an experiment was conducted to extend the storability of seeds by ultra-dry moisture content. The results showed that the groundnut kernels dried to 5% moisture content, vacuum packed in aluminium foil pouch and stored at-200C, -5 0C and 50C maintained the germination above Indian Minimum Seed Certification Standards (>70%) with maximum seedling vigour for the period upto 20 months.

Use of Starch and Biochar-Based Essential Oil Formulations from Three Aromatic Plants as Antifungal Components to Improve Peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) Seed Storage

Poor storage conditions of foodstuffs are responsible for their deterioration on many microorganism species with substantial quantitative and qualitative losses. During storage, formulating essential oil of some antifungal plants' based on cassava starch and corncob biochar efficacy was evaluated on fungi associated with peanut seeds (Arachis hypogaea L.). Two hundred peanut seeds were dispersed in plastic bottles; 5 g of essential oil formulation starch-based (3 and 7 µl/g) were sprinkled on the seeds. Biochar pieces were added to the seeds in the bottles for biochar-based essential oils. Laboratory conditions were used to store both treatment and non-treatment seeds for 70 days. Infection rates of fungal infections were estimated at 10, 20, 40, 60, and 70 days of storage. From the results obtained, five fungal genera were isolated from peanut seeds, including four species of Aspergillus, Cercospora sp, Fusarium sp, Phomopsis sp and Rhizopus stolonifer, with seed infection percentages ranging from 4 to 62%. The antifungal activity of starch-based formulations revealed that at a concentration of 3 µl/g, Cymbopogon citratus essential oil is the most effective antifungal agent, 13% infection for 70 days resulted storage of peanut seeds. After 70 days of storage, at a dose of 7 µl/g, C. sempervirens essential oil had the best antifungal efficacy with 23.50% of infected seeds for the biochar-based formulation. As a result of these findings, starch and biochar can be used to formulate essential oils for the conservation of peanut seeds. Moreover, Cymbopogon citratus essential oil formulated with starch is the most effective.

IMPROVEMENT OF SEED VIABILITY AND VIGOR OF SEVERAL RICE VARIETIES WITH VARIOUS PRIMING METHODS

Rice serves as Indonesia's main food source, but inadequate storage conditions can lead to seed deterioration and diminished germination performance. To enhance the viability and vigor of stored seeds, this study explores various priming methods' effects on multiple rice varieties. Employing a completely randomized design (CRD) with two factors, the first factor involves rice varieties (V) categorized by germination ranges: 41–50% (V1 = Toyonishiki, V2 = Yoneshiro), 51–60% (V3 = Jaya, V4 = IR50), 61–70% (V5 = Fortuna, V6 = Sulutan), and 71–80% (V7 = IR 24, V8 = Inpago 5). The second factor is seed priming (P), including control, hydropriming, and osmopriming. Results indicate that priming enhances maximum growth potential, germination percentage, vigor index, growth speed, plumule and radicle length, as well as fresh and dry weight. Hydropriming outperforms osmopriming, particularly in vigor index, growth speed, plumule and radicle length, and dry weight. Priming proves more effective in improving maximum growth potential, germination percentage, vigor index, and growth speed at lower germination percentage ranges (41–60%). The most significant priming-induced increases in radicle length, fresh weight, and dry weight occur in higher germination percentage ranges (61–80%)

Seed priming of stored seeds on seed germination, vegetative performance, flowering, and proline content in chili under water stress condition

Chili seeds mostly have been stored for a long period; therefore, the seed quality may be affected. Prior to planting, reinvigoration by priming treatments becomes an important treatment. The purpose of this study was to evaluate how priming affected seed germination, vegetative performance, flowering, and proline content in chili cv. "Inata Agrihorti" under water stress treatment. The research was carried out in the Physiology Laboratory and Shade House in Batu East Java, Indonesia from December 2022 to March 2023, A factorial Randomized Block Design with three replications was set up in this study that consisted of two factors. First factor was stored seeds (2 and 5 years) duration of chili cv. Inata Agrihorti, and the second factor was priming treatments (Phenol Ethyl Glycol 6000, Gibberellic acids, Phenol Ethyl Glycol 6000 + Gibberellic acids, and distilled water as a control). The reinvigoration of stored seeds by priming treatments significantly improved germination percentage, germination time, root length, and proline content of early seedlings’ stages either under water stress or distilled water treatment as a control. The interaction of priming treatment and stored seeds was also recorded in improving the vegetative performance, flower number, and proline content of chili plants derived from reinvigorated seeds under water stress or normal watering treatment. Under water stress and/or normal conditions, primed seeds of 2-year-old stored seeds produced larger values of these variables than primed seeds of 5-year-old stored seeds. To improve yield, seed invigoration of stored seeds of chili cv Inata Agrihort through - 1.5 MPa Phenol Ethyl Glycol 6000 treatment was recommended.

THE EFFECT OF COLD TREATMENT ON THE GERMINATION OF <i>CARDIOCRINUM CORDATUM</i> VAR. <i>GLEHNII</i> (LILIACEAE) SEEDS

The seeds of Cardiocrinum cordatum var. glehnii are characterized by a complex morphophysiological type of dormancy. There are three mechanisms of germination inhibition: two of them are localized in the embryo and one in the surrounding structures of the seed. To overcome these mechanisms, different temperature regimes for seed stratification are required.It was revealed that the mechanism of inhibition of embryo postdevelopment is removed at higher temperatures of 18–20°C for 1.5 months for stored seeds or 2 months for fresh ones. Optimal rates of embryo development were observed at 9–10°C. At the end of postdevelopment, the embryos in different experimental variants could significantly differ in length. However, the degree of heterogeneity of the sample by embryo length did not affect the germination rate and the final percentage of germinated seeds.@The temperature regime during embryo postdevelopment did not affect the subsequent growth of the embryonic root and seed germination, as well as cold stratification at the beginning of the experiment did not stimulate embryo growth.The development of embryo root was possible only after exposure to cold (0–2°C). It was demonstrated that the energy of seed germination and the germination rate significantly depend on the duration of cold stratification, regardless of the moment of exposure to cold. The longer the cold treatment was, the faster the seed germination. At the same time, not only cold stratification on water, but also dry storage of seeds at 0–2°C accelerated their germination.Under natural conditions, seed germination of C. cordatum var. glehnii occurs in 18–19 months after dissemination. In laboratory experiment, freshly harvested seeds of this species could be germinated in 7–8 months, taking into account that approximately 4 months of warm stratification are required for the further development of the embryo, and 3.5–4 months of cold stratification are required to remove the mechanism of germination inhibition.Differences in the duration and period of exposure to cold, however, did not affect the final percentage of germinated seeds. In almost all variants, the final percentage of germination was high (from 86 to 100%).The results of the experiment indicate that the process of seed germination of C. cordatum var. glehnii is realized in nature under the effect of different durations of temperature influences, which ensures the plasticity in the reproduction of this species in natural conditions.

Down-Regulation of Rice Glutelin by CRISPR-Cas9 Gene Editing Decreases Carbohydrate Content and Grain Weight and Modulates Synthesis of Seed Storage Proteins during Seed Maturation

The glutelins are a family of abundant plant proteins comprised of four glutelin subfamilies (GluA, GluB, GluC, and GluD) encoded by 15 genes. In this study, expression of subsets of rice glutelins were suppressed using CRISPR-Cas9 gene-editing technology to generate three transgenic rice variant lines, GluA1, GluB2, and GluC1. Suppression of the targeted glutelin genes was confirmed by SDS-PAGE, Western blot, and q-RT-PCR. Transgenic rice variants GluA1, GluB2, and GluC1 showed reduced amylose and starch content, increased prolamine content, reduced grain weight, and irregularly shaped protein aggregates/protein bodies in mature seeds. Targeted transcriptional profiling of immature seeds was performed with a focus on genes associated with grain quality, starch content, and grain weight, and the results were analyzed using the Pearson correlation test (requiring correlation coefficient absolute value ≥ 0.7 for significance). Significantly up- or down-regulated genes were associated with gene ontology (GO) and KEGG pathway functional annotations related to RNA processing (spliceosomal RNAs, group II catalytic introns, small nucleolar RNAs, microRNAs), as well as protein translation (transfer RNA, ribosomal RNA and other ribosome and translation factors). These results suggest that rice glutelin genes may interact during seed development with genes that regulate synthesis of starch and seed storage proteins and modulate their expression via post-transcriptional and translational mechanisms.

Physiological Quality of Soybean Seeds Stored in Different Periods in Dry Soil and Temperatures

The soybean crop is one of the most economically important commodities in Brazil, and the correct way of sowing it is essential for successful production. Thus, the objective was to evaluate the physiological quality of soybean seeds subjected to different storage periods in dry soil and temperatures. The experimental design was completely randomized, in a 3x4 factorial scheme (temperatures: 15; 25 and 35ºC and seed storage periods in the soil: 0 (control); 7; 14 and 21 days) with four replications of 50 seeds. Physiological evaluations were based on emergence tests, length and dry mass of seedlings, in addition to digitalization of seedling images. It was verified that there was an interaction of the factors, thus interfering with the physiological quality of the seeds submitted to different temperatures and periods of storage in dry soil. It was concluded that the increase in the storage period of soybean seeds in dry soil, as well as the temperature, promoted a reduction in the percentage of emergence of normal seedlings. Implicating more heterogeneous results of seedling development, with image scanning being a positive way to assess the physiological quality of these seedlings. Keywords: Glycine max. Seedling Evaluation. Seedling Scanning. Resumo A cultura da soja é uma das commodities de maior importância agroeconômica no Brasil, sendo fundamental a forma correta de sua semeadura para o sucesso da produção. Desde modo, o objetivo foi avaliar a qualidade fisiológica de sementes de soja submetidas a diferentes períodos de armazenamento em solo seco e temperaturas. O delineamento experimental foi conduzido inteiramente casualizado, no esquema fatorial 3x4 (temperaturas: 15; 25 e 35ºC e períodos de armazenamento da semente no solo: 0 (testemunha); 7; 14 e 21 dias) com quatro repetições de 50 sementes. As avaliações fisiológicas foram pelos testes de emergência, comprimento e massa seca de plântulas, além da digitalização das imagens das plântulas. Verificou-se que houve interação dos fatores, assim interferindo sobre a qualidade fisiológica das sementes submetidas a diferentes temperaturas e períodos de armazenamento em solo seco. Conclui-se que conforme o aumento do período de armazenamento das sementes de soja em solo seco, bem como da temperatura promoveu a redução da percentagem de emergência de plântulas normais. Implicando em resultados mais heterogêneos do desenvolvimento de plântulas, sendo a digitalização das imagens uma forma positiva para a avaliação da qualidade fisiológica dessas plântulas. Palavras-chave: Glycine max. Avaliação de Plântulas. Digitalização de Plântulas.

Application of nanoparticles entrapped orange essential oil to inhibit the incidence of phytopathogenic fungi during storage of agroecological maize seeds

The demand for sustainable, healthy, and pesticide-free food has grown in recent years. Agroecological seeds cannot receive chemical treatment, as pesticides present toxicological and environmental risks, requiring the development of alternative methods for disease control, such as the use of essential oils. In this study, orange essential oil was extracted and encapsulated in zein nanoparticles by the nanoprecipitation method. The nanoparticles were tested for the antifungal activity on agroecological maize seeds and for the mycelial sensitivity of Stenocarpella macrospora. The synthesized nanoparticles presented good encapsulation efficiency (99 %) of orange essential oil rich in D-limonene, conferring high antioxidant activity to the loaded nanoparticles. The release profile indicated a pseudo-Fickian mechanism governed by diffusion, explained according to the Korsmeyer-Peppas model. The dynamic light scattering, and transmission electron microscopy showed spherical nanoparticles with particle size lower than 200 nm. The nanoparticles containing orange essential oil inhibited the incidence of Fusarium during the storage of agroecological maize seeds. The mycelial sensitivity against Stenocarpella macrospora showed that the encapsulated essential oil was more effective in inhibiting the fungus when compared to the non-encapsulated oil. Therefore, the nanoparticles containing encapsulated orange essential oil can be effectively applied as an antifungal material for the conservation of agroecological maize seeds, contributing to the development of sustainable agricultural biotechnology with pesticide-free products.

Viability of Nodule Bacteria Bradyrhizobium japonicummon Soybean Seeds by Treatment With Fungicides During Extended Storage

Background. With the increase in soybean cultivation areas, inoculants are becoming increasingly sought after. They are not only compatible with the original preparations for seed treatment of soybean but also offer the possibility of applying them for several days or even months before sowing into the soil. Objective. The viability of new strains of nodule bacteria Bradyrhizobium japonicum (strain PC07 and strain B78) was investigated on the surface of soybean seeds treated with fungicides Fever and Maxim XL during the extended storage of inoculated seeds. Additionally, their ability for nitrogen fixation under symbiotic conditions was evaluated. Methods. Сultivation, serial dilution method, determination of bacterial titer of inoculants, quantification of colony forming units (CFU), gas chromatography. Results. In laboratory conditions, on the soybean seeds of Almaz and Vasylkivska varieties, the viability of the nodule bacteria B. japonicum PC07 and B78, which are more resistant to the active substances of these fungicides in pure culture, decreased. This reduction was dependent on the storage period, the fungicide used, and the strain of inoculant. One day after inoculation on the seeds without the use of fungicide, 68.6–75.4% CFU of the initial number was retained. Seeds treated with the fungicide Fever contained 36.5–38.3% CFU, and those treated with Maxim XL contained 26.2–27.0% CFU. The use of inoculants based on fungicide-resistant strains of B. japonicum PC07 and B78 also provided high cell viability – 2.41–2.8×106 (on the seeds without treatment), 1.40–1.70×106 (with Fever) and 0.8–1.17×106 (with Maxim XL) CFU/seed after 5 days of storage. The nitrogen-fixing activity of root nodules in soybean plants of Almaz and Vasylkivska varieties, whose seeds were treated with Fever, decreased on both varieties by 18.4–22.4% and 32.1–39.5%, respectively and for treatment with Maxim XL, the reduction was 24.5–33.7% and 47.7–75.2%, respectively, during the storage of seeds for 5 and 7 days before sowing, compared to control variants (seeds without fungicide treatment). Conclusions. The utilization of fungicide-resistant strains of B. japonicum PC07 and B78 for bacterization of soybean seeds treated with fungicides Fever and Maxim XL provides a high inoculation titer during 5 days of storage. Viability of microbial cells on seeds treated with fungicides significantly diminishes during storage for more than 7–14 days. Insufficient titer of CFU of B. japonicum strains PC07 and B78 on the seed surface after 14 days of storage can considerably impede the efficacy of biopreparations. Therefore, it is crucial to seek substances that can enhance the resistance of rhizobia on seeds to the adverse effects of fungicide seed treatment, ensuring a longer period of their viability.

Seed Longevity in Desert Species and the Possibility of Forming a Persistent Soil Seed Bank

The formation of soil seed banks could be an important survival strategy for desert plant species that determine their persistence under harsh conditions, where temperature is extremely high, and chances of rainfall are low and unpredictable. Therefore, the assessment of the seed viability and germination potential of in-situ stored seeds could be important for understanding their reproductive strategies. Seeds of the studied species were collected in 2017 and divided into two batches. The first batch (fresh seeds) of each species was tested for seed germination within one week after collection. However, the second batch (in-situ stored seeds) was tested for seed germination in the first week of October 2022. In the current study, the germination potential of in-situ stored seeds was investigated in order to determine their ability to remain viable under natural conditions. Stored seeds of studied species showed higher germination percentages (53–89%) than fresh seeds (3–34%), except for Peganum harmala, indicating the presence of seed dormancy at the time of seed maturation. Seed germination percentages of all the species were significantly enhanced by storage, indicating their ability to form persistent soil seed banks, although the extent was species-specific. Fresh seeds of all the species attained higher germination in light as compared to complete darkness, suggesting that the germination of seeds can be restricted if they are buried deep in the soil under natural conditions. However, depending on species, in-situ seed storage changed the light requirement for germination. Additionally, the absence of an increase in the ratio of dead seeds between fresh and stored seeds indicates their ability to remain persistent in a soil seed bank and thus may offer great potential for maintaining and restoring desert ecosystems.

Integration of hyperspectral imaging, non-targeted metabolomics and machine learning for vigour prediction of naturally and accelerated aged sweetcorn seeds

Understanding and predicting the storage stability of sweetcorn seeds is critical for effective supply chain management, however, prediction ability relies heavily on accelerated ageing (AA) studies and this is not always directly applicable to natural ageing (NA). In this study, hyperspectral imaging (HSI) and non-targeted metabolomics (LC-MS/MS) were integrated using PLS-R, SVM-R and OPLS-DA to predict loss of seed vigour in NA seeds, using data based on AA seeds. The inconsistencies in the pattern of spectral variation between seeds undergoing AA and NA were first identified. AA-based vigour prediction models were then built using all wavelengths and effective wavelengths (EWs) selected by regression coefficients. These models were externally validated by independent AA and NA seed datasets, respectively. The results yielded satisfactory predictions for AA seeds (R2 ≥ 0.814), but low precision for NA seeds (R2 ≤ 0.696). Metabolome analysis identified 54 differential metabolites, containing a large proportion of amino acids, dipeptides and their derivatives, which were important substances reflecting discrepancies between the ageing mechanisms of AA and NA seeds. Subsequently, N-H bond-related wavebands were deemed to be a possible interference factor in the models' practicability. After removing the N-H bond-related EWs, the AA-based models achieved better performance on NA seeds, with R2v-2 value increasing from 0.696 to 0.720 for Lvsechaoren and from 0.668 to 0.727 for Zhongtian 300. In summary, coupling HSI, LC-MS/MS and machine learning was shown as an appropriate approach for non-destructive monitoring and predicting the vigour of stored sweetcorn seeds.

To the question of survival of the fungi Colletotrichum lupini var. lupini – the lupin anthracnose pathogen – in the conditions of the Bryansk region

The results of studying the viability of the fungus Colletotrichum lupini var. lupini, which is the causative agent of a dangerous disease of lupine – anthracnose, are presented. The purpose of the study was to determine the viability of the fungus under different terms and conditions of storage of lupin seeds and plant residues in climatic conditions of the Bryansk region. The work was done in 2018–2021. The object of research were the seeds, seedlings and plant residues of the Michurinsky variety white lupine and the Vityaz variety narrow-leafed lupine stored under different conditions for four years. Seed anthracnose infestation before and after storage was determined by paper roll method. The fungus was identified by conidia type using a light microscope. The viability of the fungus on plant residues (bean leaflets, stems) was determined by isolation into pure cultures on nutrient medium. It was found that infected seeds were the main source of anthracnose infection. In the conditions of a granary with a natural regime of temperature and humidity for the first year of storage the infection of white lupine seeds with anthracnose decreased from 8.1 to 4.0%, and narrow-leafed lupine – from 4.8 to 1.7%. After three years of storage, the number of the seeds with viable infection of the fungus was 1.1 and 0.4%, respectively. Consequently, lupin seeds from previous years pose less risk as a source of infection. The viability of the fungus decreased on the infected crop residues under room conditions and under the roof of the granary from the first year of storage. By spring 2021, it was 12.0 and 19.0%, respectively. The viability of the fungus decreased faster on unplowed crop residues. It was 2.0% in the spring of 2020 and leveled off completely by the fall. Decomposition of plant residues in the soil is faster than on the surface, and after overwintering, the fungus on them completely loses its viability and cannot be the source of infection.

Impact of storage technologies and duration on insect pest population, post-harvest losses, and seed quality of stored chickpea in Ethiopia.

Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) is the most important winter season food legume in Ethiopia. Despite being a major producer and consumer of chickpeas, Ethiopia experiences lower yields due to biotic and abiotic stresses, particularly insect pest infestations during storage. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of different storage technologies and durations on the losses of stored chickpea seeds in terms of both quantity and quality. The experiment involved five storage technologies and three durations, spanning a period of 6 months, with data collected at 2-month intervals. The results showed that the Purdue Improved Crop Storage (PICS) and Super GrainPro (SGP) bags effectively maintained intergranular temperature, seed moisture content, and relative humidity throughout the storage period, followed by the modified hermetic metal silo. In contrast, traditional bags exhibited a significant increase in these parameters. The PICS and SGP bags also exhibited the lowest numbers of total insect pests after 6 months, while the jute bags had the highest infestation. Common insect species found in the stored chickpea seeds were Callosobruchus chinensis (L.), Sitophilus oryzae (L.), and Tribolium confusum (duVal). Furthermore, hermetic bags (PICS and SGP) demonstrated the least grain damage and weight loss, while jute bags had relatively higher values. Seed viability was well maintained in hermetic bags but significantly decreased in traditional bags. Overall, hermetic storage technologies, such as the PICS and SGP bags, effectively suppressed insect development, reduced losses, and preserved seed viability without the need for insecticides. It is recommended that farmers use these hermetic storage bags after proper drying to enhance food security and income generation. By implementing these recommendations, Ethiopia can enhance its chickpea storage practices, reduce post-harvest losses, and contribute to improved food security and economic sustainability in the chickpea sector. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.