Behaviour of hybrid corn seeds during storage under different conditions of air temperature and relative humidity

To evaluate the performance of early and normal hybrid corn seeds during storage under different conditions of temperature and relative humidity, Pioneer 3072 and 3210 hybrid seeds were stored under three different conditions, for sixth months. Evaluations of the physiological quality of the seeds were carried out in three bimonthly periods, part of the seeds having been submitted to additional stress at the time tests were conducted. The performance differences between the studied treatments were achieved through the employment of tests of germination, first count, accelerated aging, cold (with and without soil), electrical conductivity and seedling field emergence. It is concluded that: the control of temperature and relative humidity of the storage ambient, mainly relative humidity (dry chamber), favour the conservation of the hybrid corn seed quality.Com o objetivo de avaliar o comportamento de sementes de milho híbrido durante o armazenamento sob condições diversas de temperatura e umidade relativa do ar foram utilizadas sementes do híbrido Pioneer 3072 e 3210, as quais foram armazenadas sob três condições distintas: câmara seca, câmara fria e condição ambiente, durante 6 meses, e avaliadas quanto à qualidade fisiológica em 3 épocas bimestrais distintas, sendo parte submetida à estresse adicional no momento de realização dos testes. Para detecção da diferença de comportamento dos materiais estudados foram empregados os testes de germinação, primeira contagem de germinação, envelhecimento acelerado, frio (com ou sem solo), condutividade elétrica e emergência de plântulas em campo. Pôde-se concluir que: o controle da temperatura e umidade relativa do ar do ambiente de armazenamento, principalmente da umidade relativa do ar (câmara seca), favorece a conservação da qualidade das sementes

Seed-borne pathogens and electrical conductivity of soybean seeds

Adequate procedures to evaluate seed vigor are important. Regarding the electrical conductivity test (EC), the interference in the test results caused by seed-borne pathogens has not been clarified. This research was carried out to study the influence of Phomopsis sojae (Leh.) and Colletotrichum dematium (Pers. ex Fr.) Grove var. truncata (Schw.) Arx. fungi on EC results. Soybean seeds (Glycine max L.) were inoculated with those fungi using potato, agar and dextrose (PDA) medium with manitol (-1.0 MPa) and incubated for 20 h at 25 °C. The colony diameter, index of mycelial growth, seed water content, occurrence of seed-borne pathogens, physiological potential of the seeds, measured by germination and vigor tests (seed germination index, cold test, accelerated aging and electrical conductivity), and seedling field emergence were determined. The contents of K+, Ca2+, and Mg2+ in the seed and in the soaking solution were also determined. A complete 2 × 4 factorial design with two seed sizes (5.5 and 6.5 mm) and four treatments (control, seeds incubated without fungi, seeds incubated with Phomopsis and seeds incubated with Colletotrichum) were used with eight (5.5 mm large seeds) and six (6.5 mm large seeds) replications. All seeds submitted to PDA medium had their germination reduced in comparison to the control seeds. This reduction was also observed when seed vigor and leached ions were considered. The presence of Phomopsis sojae fungus in soybean seed samples submitted to the EC test may be the cause of misleading results